Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia has resigned. According to news from Ethiopia local TV, the PM submitted his resignation today. It is unclear why but it could be linked to the pro-democracy protests that have been taking place in the country recently. Media houses have been shut down for the last three days together with social media platforms.
The Prime Minister’s resignation comes few hours after South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma tendered his resignation.
Before he became Prime Minister,Desalegn served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi from 2010 to 2012. After Meles’ death in August 2012, Hailemariam succeeded him as Prime Minister, initially in an acting capacity. He was then elected as the Chair of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), the ruling party, on 15 September 2012. Hailemariam also served as the Chairperson of the African Union from 2013 to 2014.