Lemma Megersa

Lemma Megersa
Lemma Megersa
Ministry of Defence
	In office; 18 April 2019 – Present
Prime Minister	Abiy Ahmed
Preceded by	Aisha Mohammed Mussa
President of Oromia Region
	In office; 23 October 2016 – 18 April 2019
Prime Minister	Hailemariam Desalegn; Abiy Ahmed
Succeeded by	Shimelis Abdisa
Deputy Chairman of Oromo Democratic Party
	In office; 22 February 2018 – 1 December 2019
Preceded by	Abiy Ahmed
Succeeded by	post abolished
Personal details
Born	26 July 1970; East Wollega, Socialist Ethiopia
Political party	Independent
Other political; affiliations	Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front; Oromo Democratic Party
Alma mater	Addis Ababa University ; Jimma University

Lemma Megersa (Oromo: Lammaa Magarsaa; born 26 July 1970) is an Ethiopian politician who used to served as the Minister of Defense of Ethiopia, and was the President of the Oromia regional state of Ethiopia and Deputy Chairman of the ruling party in the region, Oromo Democratic Party. He was appointed as minister on 18 April 2019. Since the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has been renamed the Prosperity Party, Megersa has been independent.

Background

Lemma Megersa was born in East Wollega Sibu Sire Aanaa of oromia. He completed his secondary education at General Tadesse Biru Secondary School. He received a bachelor's degree from Addis Ababa University in Political Science and International Relations, and later graduated with a master's degree in International Relations from the same university.[1]

Lemma served as speaker of Caffee, the Oromia regional parliament, before becoming regional president in October 2016.

Reforms

One of the first reforms Lemma tried to undertake was to prevent the interference of the federal police in the state affairs of Oromia region. He called for respect of the constitution and let the region exercise its constitutional power. In this regard, Lemma managed to limit and prevent the interference of the military in regional demonstrations, and regulating investments within Oromia Regional State.This however believed to have led to destructive mob demonstrations which regional forces are unable to curb like the one recently happened around Shashemene, Arsi, Bale and Jimma areas of the Oromia region which took away 160 lives and million dollars worth of the economy. [2]

Lemma also took measures on investment projects that were operating in violation of rules or not benefiting the region. The regional government terminated the operating license of such businesses. Besides, a number of illegal mining companies were shut down.[2] His efforts to introduce reform and to unite the country led to The Economist describing him as "the country’s most popular politician".[3][4]

Personal life

Megersa is a board member of the Assemblies of God in Ethiopia.[5]

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gollark: apioform.services WHEN?!

References

"Lemma Megersa: OPride's Oromo Person of the Year 2017 Runner Up". Opride.com. 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
"Who will become Ethiopia's new prime minister and how?". The EastAfrican. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
"Lammaa Magarsaa: A sweet-talking lackey or a genuine man of the people?". OPride.com. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
"Ethiopia's regime flirts with letting dissidents speak without locking them up". The Economist. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
"God wants Ethiopians to prosper: The prime minister and many of his closest allies follow a fast-growing strain of Christianity (Pentecostalism in Ethiopia)". The Economist. 24 November 2018.

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[1] "Lemma Megersa: OPride's Oromo Person of the Year 2017 Runner Up". Opride.com. 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2018-01-06.

[:0-2] "Who will become Ethiopia's new prime minister and how?". The EastAfrican. 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2018-02-20.

[3] "Lammaa Magarsaa: A sweet-talking lackey or a genuine man of the people?". OPride.com. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2017-07-07.

[4] "Ethiopia's regime flirts with letting dissidents speak without locking them up". The Economist. Retrieved 28 January 2018.

[5] "God wants Ethiopians to prosper: The prime minister and many of his closest allies follow a fast-growing strain of Christianity (Pentecostalism in Ethiopia)". The Economist. 24 November 2018.