The country where PM Modi has visited, the PM of that country rose from a soldier to the top post, won Nobel

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to Ethiopia from 16 to 17 December. During this, PM Modi will meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in Addis Ababa and will participate in other programs. Abi Ahmed Ali not only became the most popular Prime Minister of the country by entering politics from the army. In fact, he also won the Nobel Peace Prize. Abiy Ahmed rose from the heights of the army and intelligence to the top of politics at a time when the country was in deep political crisis. His military background gave him the image of a strong and disciplined leader, while his early reforms established him as a beacon of hope.

Abiy Ahmed Ali received his higher education (degrees in computer science, leadership and economics) from Addis Ababa University and other institutions. He then underwent military training and joined the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). Abiy Ahmed Ali started his career as a soldier and fought in the Ethiopia–Eritrean War (1998–2000). Due to his talent and leadership ability, he was promoted rapidly and reached a higher position. He had attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, which is a senior command level post.

was the head of the intelligence department
Abiy Ahmed Ali’s most important and influential role was as Deputy Director and then Director (2008–2015) of the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). During this time, he worked directly under the then Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and was responsible for the country’s security and intelligence matters. He was also appointed as the head of Ethiopia’s Information Network Security Agency (INSA), which is responsible for the country’s cyber security.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali with medal and diploma after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

How did he come from army to politics?
Abiy Ahmed’s entry into politics was not a direct career change, but a result of Ethiopia’s complex political structure and his own strategic situation. He was a member of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), part of Ethiopia’s then-ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). OPDO represents the Oromo region (the country’s largest ethnic group). His military-intelligence background and Oromo identity made him a strong candidate within the party.

Political role in controversial times
In 2015–2016, massive public protests took place against the government in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia. Hundreds of people were killed due to the action of security forces in suppressing these demonstrations. During this crisis, Abiy Ahmed was made the Minister of Science and Technology (2015). This post was of a technical ministry, but from here he started establishing himself as a politician. In February 2018, OPDO (now renamed Oromo Democratic Party – ODP) elected him as its president. Since ODP was the dominant party in the EPRDF coalition, his election as chairman of the coalition and Prime Minister of the country was a natural step. He took oath as Prime Minister in April 2018.

Got a boost from the image of the reformer
The biggest reason for Abi Ahmed’s entry and rapid rise in politics was his image as a ‘transformative reformer’. As soon as he assumed power, he started releasing political prisoners. Restrictions on press freedom were removed. The biggest step he took was to end the 20-year-old standoff with Eritrea, for which he received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. They gave slogans like ‘Medemer’ (harmony) and ‘Eriti’ (inclusion of others). However, in subsequent years the Tigray conflict and human rights issues have challenged his image. But still he remains a popular Prime Minister.