The ruling Prosperity Party of Ethiopia today elected Temesgen Tiruneh as its new deputy President replacing Demeke Mekonnen.
This is announced during the Party’s central committee’s meeting, which was started on Wednesday. It is not yet clear if Demeke still continues as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia. Demeke was one of the top political figures along with Aby Ahmed and Lemma Megersa in removing TPLF from power in April 2018.
On 27 July 2019, Temesgen has been named as the head of Amhara Region amidst the crisis following the June 22 coup attempt. He has worked as a security advisor of the Information Network Security Agency (INSA) from 20 April 2018.
Demeke joined Amhara’s ruling Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) in the early 1990s. Demeke first took part in the national election held in 1995, and won a seat in the Amhara Regional Council, where he was appointed general secretary.
In the middle of his term, he went to England to do his post-graduate studies in conflict management. Upon his return in 2001, he was assigned to establish and lead the ethics and anti-corruption commission of the region. Demeke was one of the top po;litical figures along with Aby Ahmed and Lemma Megersa in removing TPLF from power in April 2018.