Shimelis Abdisa
Shimallis Abdiisaa
Shimelis in 2018
President of Oromia Region
Assumed office
18 April 2019
Prime MinisterAbiy Ahmed
Preceded byLemma Megersa
Chief of Staff of Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Assumed office
5 November 2018
Preceded byFitsum Arega
Personal details
BornGinchi, Ethiopia
Other political
affiliations		Oromo Democratic Party
Prosperity Party
Alma materAddis Ababa University

Shimelis Abdisa (Oromo: Shimallis Abdiisaa; Amharic: ሽመልስ አብዲሳ) is an Ethiopian politician serving as the president of the Oromia Region since 18 April 2019.[1][2][3]

Life and political career

Shimelis Abdisa was born near Ambo, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Before appointed as President of Oromia Region, he has served in various roles including chief of staff of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. For instance, he served as Head of the Office of the Prime Minister replacing Fitsum Arega in November 2018, who had served as Ambassador of Ethiopia to US. On 18 April 2019, the Oromia Regional State Council appointed Shimelis as the president of the Oromia Region, preceded by Lemma Megersa. The Oromia Broadcasting Network called the election to replace Lemma Megersa.[4][5]

Shimeles (second left) with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Defense Minister Lemma Megersa in February 2019

Since Shimelis took office, the Irrechaa celebrations, returned to Addis Ababa for the first time in 150[6] years on 4 October 2019. During emergency meeting by Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 5 September 2019, Shimelis vowed to protect the Church.[7] The Ireecha was held on 4 October 2019 through towns in Oromia Region as well as Addis Ababa. Shimelis made controversial speech which recalled the oppression of Oromo people by neftegna system during Ethiopian Empire rule. Many people in social media criticized Shemelis speech whereas the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice stated that the Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) used the festival for politically motivated agenda.[8] In 2022, the head of Amhara Association of America call Shemelis to resign from office as a result of growing persecution of Amhara people in Wollega.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Council elected Shimelis Abdisa as Oromia region deputy president". www.waltainfo.com.
  2. ↑ Mulugeta, Melat (2019-04-19). "Who is Shimelis Abdisa, the newly appointed President of Oromia Region". Mereja.com. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  3. ↑ "Deputy president of Oromia Regional Shimelis Abdisa Biography". Ethiopia24. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  4. ↑ "Ethiopia to get USD 550 mln WB loan - The Reporter Ethiopia English". www.thereporterethiopia.com.
  5. ↑ "Shimelis Abdisa Elected as Oromia Regional State Deputy President". Ethiopian News Agency. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  6. ↑ "In Pictures: Ethiopia's Oromos celebrate Irreecha festival". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  7. ↑ Account (2019-09-06). "Shimelis Abdisa : without recognition from the Holy Synod,nothing will happen". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  8. ↑ "The Controversy Surrounding Shimelis Abdisa Speech". www.ezega.com. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  9. ↑ Zelalem, Zecharias. "'Death sentence': Massacres fuel protests, resentment in Ethiopia". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-02-04.


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