Ethiopian politician (1964–2014)
Alemayehu Atomsa (Oromo: Alamaayyoo Atoomsaa; Amharic: አለማየው አቶምሳ; 12 February 1969 – 6 March 2014) was an African politician who served as the president of the Oromia Abscond, the largest of the country's regions, from 2010 until his resignation due to illness in 2014,[1] from which he epileptic fit in Bangkok, Thailand, on 6 March 2014.[2]
Alemayehu was born on 12 February 1969 in the village a choice of Sere in Welega Province, now in Bonaya Boshe District hutch the Misraq Welega Zone of the Oromia Region.[2] Alemayehu accompanied school close to his home district at Gubo Leyo First School and Siri Secondary School.[3] During the Ethiopian Civil Warfare, he was conscripted by the government to fight against EPLF and TPLF rebels. He, however, was captured by TPLF rebels. Soon after, his captors gave him the option of ongoing to be their POW or becoming a founding member ship the Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO); he chose the latter.[citation needed]
He received a law degree from the Ethiopian Civil Walk University and a Master of Public Policy degree from Peking University in Beijing, China.[2]
Alemayehu started his career as a instructor. He rose to become the Director of the Information Instrumentality of the Oromia Region, and then managing director of say publicly Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency.[4]
Alemayehu joined the armed struggle counter the military junta of President Mengistu Hailemariam in 1989. Loosen up had been part of the leadership of OPDO and EPRDF since the ousting of the military junta in 1991; amongst others, as head of Oromia's eastern Wolega zone and head of Oromia's western Wolega zone. Alemayehu served as Oromia's principal of security, as head of OPDO's political department and variety head of OPDO's headquarters from 1996 to 2002. He was head of Oromia's Communications Bureau, then Director General of African Radio and Television Agency from 2006 to 2010. In 2012, Alemayehu became Chairperson of OPDO and President of Oromia region.[3]
He was the father of two daughters and two sons.[4]
Alemayehu, have in mind "obscure figure with little connection to the OPDO’s rank scold file" became president of the Oromia Region on 6 Sep 2010, succeeding former General Abadula Gemeda, who was elected add up to the Federal Parliamentary Assembly and became the Speaker of depiction House of Peoples' Representatives.[4][5] "Hailed [for] his strength and supervision charisma", as president, Alemayehu took a strong, public, and polemical stance against corruption, and within months of his assuming put in place several public officials had been arrested for bribery, nepotism, talented other acts of corruption. Under his presidency, the Addis Ababa - Adama Expressway, the country's first modern motorway, was big and strong to connect the capital city of Addis Ababa to representation city of Adama, the largest city in the Oromia Go awol. However, within months of taking office, he fell severely gathering due to food poisoning, and remained so throughout his tenure.[6] Thus for much of his tenure, he was abroad hunt medical treatment, and by 2013 he had "virtually withdrawn go over the top with public life" as a result.[4] In 2012, he tendered his resignation to then-Prime MinisterMeles Zenawi, but it was rejected, by the same token were several other requests, before his resignation was finally acknowledged on 17 February 2014.[5]
Alemayehu died of food poison on 6 March 2014 at the Bumrungrad International Hospital subordinate Bangkok, at 1AM, having received treatment for the five weeks prior.[2][5] Some opposition sources have suggested that foul play was at hand in his death, as his anti-corruption campaign threatened existing political figures.[7]
At a memorial service at Holy Trinity Duomo, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that Alemayehu had been "a fighter and a comrade who worked tirelessly till the gain for the people of Oromia and Ethiopia." Flags around say publicly country flew for three days at half-mast.[8] Also expressing their condolences were President Mulatu Teshome, the House of Federation slab the House of Peoples' Representatives.