Ethiopia's ruling EPRDF re-elects PM Abiy Ahmed as leader

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been retained as chairman of the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, EPRDF.

His chief of staff, tweeted that the 42-year-old had been given a mandate to lead the coalition till the next congress. Today marks the final day of the EPRDF’s 11th Congress taking place in Hawassa.

The congress also settled on Demeke Mekonnen as deputy. Mekonnen has been deputy Prime Minister under the resigned PM and continued in his role under Abiy. He hails from the Amhara region – second most populous group.

Abiy, belongs to the Oromo bloc of the coalition – the Oromo Democratic Party, ODP, of which he is leader. He was elected Prime Minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn.

The historic 11th EPRDF Congress (that has 180 voting members) today elected Dr Abiy Ahmed as Chairperson and Ato Demeke Mekonnen as Deputy Chairperson in a secret ballot. Dr Abiy Ahmed will lead the ruling party until the next Congress. #Ethiopia #EPRDFcongress pic.twitter.com/8rbY0pwkN1

— Fitsum Arega (@fitsumaregaa) October 5, 2018

The Ethiopia People Revolutionary Democratic Front comprises four main blocs:

• The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
• The Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) now Oromo Democratic Party.
• The Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) now Amhara Democratic Party.
• The Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement, SEPDM.

It is the first time in three years that the congress is holding after the coalition postponed it on several occasions in the wake of spreading anti-government protests.