Abiy Ahmed

Abiy Ahmed, born on August 15, 1976, is a prominent Ethiopian politician and military personnel who has served as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia since 2018. He is also the leader of the Prosperity Party, a position he has held since 2019. Abiy's political journey began in his teens when he joined the rebel forces opposing the regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam. Following the fall of the Derg in 1991, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), where he served as a military radio operator during the Badme War against Eritrea from 1998 to 2000.

After transitioning from military service to politics, Abiy became an elected member of the Ethiopian parliament in 2010, representing the district of Agaro. His ascent to the premiership came in 2018 when he was elected by the House of Peoples’ Representatives, succeeding a long-standing government that had ruled for twenty-eight years. Abiy's tenure has been marked by ambitious political reforms, including the release of thousands of political prisoners and the unbanning of opposition groups.

In recognition of his efforts to foster peace and international cooperation, particularly in resolving the border conflict with Eritrea, Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. His economic reforms have included the large-scale privatization of state-owned enterprises and the liberalization of key sectors, notably Ethiopian Airlines. However, his leadership has also faced significant challenges, including rising ethnic and political tensions that culminated in the Tigray War, which began in 2020.

The Tigray conflict led to severe humanitarian crises and widespread displacement, prompting Abiy to initiate efforts to consolidate regional militias into the ENDF in 2023. Despite these efforts, Ethiopia has experienced democratic backsliding under his leadership, characterized by human rights violations, media censorship, and civil conflicts across various regions.