Shimelis Abdisa

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Shimelis, and not as Abdisa.

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][failed verification][2]} He is also Chief Staff of the Prime Minister since 2018.

Shimelis Abdisa
President of Oromia Region
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 April 2019
Prime Minister	Abiy Ahmed
Preceded by	Lemma Megersa
Chief of Staff of Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 November 2018
Preceded by	Fitsum Arega
Personal details
Born	Ginchi, Ethiopia
Political party	Prosperity Party
Alma mater	Addis Ababa University

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.^[3][4]

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^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

References

1. "Deputy president of Oromia Regional Shimelis Abdisa Biography". Ethiopia24. Archived from the original on 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
2. "Council elected Shimelis Abdisa as Oromia region deputy president". www.waltainfo.com.^{[dead link‍]}
3. "Ethiopia to get USD 550 mln WB loan - The Reporter Ethiopia English". www.thereporterethiopia.com. June 2019.
4. "Shimelis Abdisa Elected as Oromia Regional State Deputy President". Ethiopian News Agency. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
5. "In Pictures: Ethiopia's Oromos celebrate Irreecha festival". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
6. Account (2019-09-06). "Shimelis Abdisa : without recognition from the Holy Synod,nothing will happen". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
7. "The Controversy Surrounding Shimelis Abdisa Speech". www.ezega.com. Retrieved 2023-02-04.