Demeke Mekonnen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Demeke Mekonnen
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ደመቀ መኮንን
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Demeke in 2020
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| Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia | |
| In office 21 September 2012 – 26 January 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Hailemariam Desalegn Abiy Ahmed |
| Preceded by | Hailemariam Desalegn |
| Succeeded by | Temesgen Tiruneh |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 4 November 2020 – 1 February 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Abiy Ahmed |
| Preceded by | Gedu Andargachew |
| Succeeded by | Taye Atskeselassie |
| In office 8 March 2019 – 18 April 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Abiy Ahmed |
| Preceded by | Workneh Gebeyehu |
| Succeeded by | Gedu Andargachew |
| Chairman of the Amhara Democratic Party |
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| In office 8 September 2010 – 1 December 2019 |
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| Deputy | Gedu Andargachew |
| Preceded by | Addisu Legesse |
| Succeeded by | post abolished |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 30 October 2008 – 4 July 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Meles Zenawi Hailemariam Desalegn |
| Succeeded by | Shiferaw Shigute |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 September 1963 Gojjam, Ethiopian Empire |
| Political party | Prosperity Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front Amhara Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Alemitu Kassaye |
| Alma mater | Bradford University Addis Ababa University |
Demeke Mekonnen Hassen (Amharic: ደመቀ መኮንን ሐሰን; born on 27 September 1963) is an Ethiopian politician. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2024. He was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2020 to 2024. Before that, he was a vice-president of the Prosperity Party.
Demeke Mekonnen also led the Amhara Democratic Party (ADP). He was the deputy leader of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). These parties were dissolved in December 2019.
Early Life and Education
Demeke was born in the Gojjam Province of Ethiopia. Later, his family moved to the Chagni district as part of a government program. He is a Muslim from the Amhara ethnic group.
He went to high school in Feres Bet. This town is in the Dega Damot area today. After high school, he studied Biology at Addis Ababa University. He earned his first degree in 1988. He also has a master's degree in Political Science from Bradford University.
After finishing his studies, Demeke became a teacher. He taught biology at Feres Bet High School for two years. Then, he moved to Bure, in the same province. In Bure, he met Alemitu Kassaye, who was a student at the time. She later became his wife and the mother of his three children.
Political Journey
Demeke joined the Amhara's ruling party, the ADP, in the early 1990s. His first step into national politics was in the 1995 election. He won a seat in the Amhara Regional Council. There, he became the general secretary.
During his term, he went to England to study conflict management. When he returned in 2001, he was asked to start and lead the region's ethics and anti-corruption commission. After this, he led the administrative and security office for the region until 2005.
In 2005, he became the vice president of the regional state. A year later, he was chosen for the executive committee of ANDM. This party was part of the EPRDF coalition. In 2010, he became the chairman of the ANDM. He was the first chairman who had not been a combatant.
Demeke's first big role in the national government was in 2008. He became the Minister of Education under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. He held this position until July 2013. He resigned because he had a lot of work as the Deputy Prime Minister. He had become Deputy Prime Minister in September 2012.
As Deputy Prime Minister, Demeke's main job was to help carry out the Growth and Transformation Plan. This plan was a big government effort to improve the country's economy. He worked to make sure all government ministries followed this plan.
In 2016, Ethiopia faced a very serious drought. It was the worst in 30 years. Many people in eastern and southern Ethiopia needed international help. Demeke was given the important task of organizing the government's response. He also helped manage the food aid from international organizations.
In February 2018, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned. Many people thought Demeke would become the next Prime Minister. However, Abiy Ahmed was chosen instead in April 2018. Demeke Mekonnen continued to serve as Deputy Prime Minister under the new government.
On 4 November 2020, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed Demeke as the foreign minister. He also became the vice president of the Prosperity Party. On 26 January 2024, Demeke resigned from both of these roles.
After leaving politics, Demeke founded the Yadam Foundation on 16 December. This is a non-governmental organization. Its goal is to fight malnutrition in Africa. In his first speech for the foundation, Demeke said that good nutrition is key for human development and economic growth in Africa.
See also
