Ambachew Mekonnen
አምባቸው መኮንን
Chief Administrator of Amhara Region
In office
8 March 2019 – 22 June 2019
Prime MinisterAbiy Ahmed
Preceded byGedu Andargachew
Succeeded byTemesgen Tiruneh
Ministry of Trade and Industry
In office
19 April 2018 – 22 October 2018
Prime MinisterAbiy Ahmed
Preceded byGedu Andargachew
Succeeded byFetlework Gebregziabher
Minister of Housing and Urban Development
In office
1 November 2016 – 19 April 2018
Prime MinisterHailemariam Dessalegn
Abiy Ahmed
Preceded byMekuria Haile
Succeeded byJantirar Abay
Minister of Construction
In office
6 October 2015 – 1 November 2016
Prime MinisterHailemariam Dessalegn
Preceded byMekuria Haile
Personal details
Bornc. 1971
Aketo, Gayint, Begemder Province, Ethiopian Empire (now Debub Gondar Zone, Ethiopia)
Died22 June 2019(2019-06-22) (aged 47–48)
Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Manner of deathAssassination by gunshots
Political partyAmhara Democratic Party
Other political
affiliations		Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Alma materEthiopian Civil Service University (BA)
KDI School of Public Policy and Management (MPP)
University of Kent (MSc, PhD)

Ambachew Mekonnen (Ge'ez: አምባቸው መኮንን; c. 1971 – 22 June 2019) was an Ethiopian politician and economist who served as the president of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia from March to June 2019, when he was assassinated in a coup attempt.[1]

Life

Ambachew Mekonnen was born in Tach Gayint, South Gondar, to a family of farmers.[2] His secondary education was interrupted due to the Ethiopian Civil War, when his school was closed, and he joined the Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (EPDM, later ANDM) as a guerrilla in 1990. He completed his secondary studies via distance education and was appointed an administrator in Abichuna Gne'a and Sheno in North Shewa.

He went on to receive a BA in economics from the Ethiopian Civil Service University, an MPP from the Korea Development Institute, and an MSc in international finance and economic development and a PhD in Economics from the University of Kent, writing his dissertation on "Economic growth, trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa: nexus and determinants”.[3]

Before his appointment as president of the Amhara Region, he served in various roles, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ethiopia. He also served as an infrastructure adviser in the Prime Minister's office prior to his selection as regional President on 6 March 2019, replacing Gedu Andargachew.

Death

Ambachew was killed on 22 June 2019 in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, by a supposed hit squad during a coup attempt in the Amhara region.[4] He was killed along with his adviser.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Attempted Coup Leaves Ethiopia's Army Chief and 3 Senior Officials Dead". NYTimes.com. The New York Times Company. Reuters. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  2. ^ Capital Newspaper (6 December 2018). "Ethiopia: Capital Newspaper Interview With Dr Ambachew Mekonnen (PHD)". Zehabesha – Latest Ethiopian News Provider. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Gedu Andargachew Resigns; Ambachew Mekonnen Elected Chief Administrator of Amhara Region". Ezega. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Ethiopia's Amhara state chief killed amid regional coup attempt". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera Media Network. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  5. ^ Endeshaw, Dawit; Houreld, Katharine (23 June 2019). Kasolowsky, Raissa (ed.). "Head of Ethiopia's Amhara regional state and advisor killed: state media". reuters.com. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
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