Lemma Megersa

Lemma Megersa (Oromo: Lammaa Magarsaa, Amharic: ለማ መገርሳ; born 26 July 1970) is an Ethiopian politician who served as the Ministry of Defense of Ethiopia 18 April 2019 to 18 August 2020 and was the President of the Oromia regional state of Ethiopia and Deputy Chairman of the ruling party in the region, Oromo Democratic Party. Since the formation of the Prosperity Party, Megersa has been independent.

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Lemma, and not as Megersa.
For the Ethiopian painter, see Lemma Guya.
Lemma Megersa
Lammaa Magarsaa Waaqoo
Minister of Defense
In office
18 April 2019 – 18 August 2020
Prime MinisterAbiy Ahmed
Preceded byAisha Mohammed Mussa
Succeeded byKenea Yadeta
President of Oromia Region
In office
23 October 2016 – 18 April 2019
Prime MinisterHailemariam Desalegn
Abiy Ahmed
Succeeded byShimelis Abdisa
Deputy Chairman of Oromo Democratic Party
In office
22 February 2018 – 1 December 2019
Preceded byAbiy Ahmed
Succeeded bypost abolished
Personal details
Born
Lemma Megersa Wako

(1970-07-26) 26 July 1970
East Wollega, Socialist Ethiopia
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Oromo Democratic Party
Alma materAddis Ababa University
Jimma University

Background

Lemma Megersa was born in East Wollega Sibu Sire District (Aanaa) of Oromia Region. He completed his secondary education at General Tadesse Biru Secondary School. He received a bachelor's degree from Addis Ababa University in Political Science and International Relations, and later graduated with a master's degree in International Relations from the same university.[1]

Lemma served as speaker of Caffee, the Oromia regional parliament, before becoming regional president in October 2016.

Reforms

One of the first reforms Lemma tried to undertake was to prevent the interference of the federal police in the state affairs of Oromia region. He called for respect of the constitution and let the region exercise its constitutional power. In this regard, Lemma managed to limit and prevent the interference of the military in regional demonstrations, and regulating investments within Oromia Regional State.

Lemma also took measures on investment projects that were operating in violation of rules or not benefiting the region. The regional government terminated the operating license of such businesses. Besides, a number of illegal mining companies were shut down.[2]

His efforts to introduce reform and to unite the country led to The Economist describing him as "the country’s most popular politician".[3][4]

His commitment to unite the country due to ethnic tensions made him not want to join in the formation of the Prosperity Party, led by the Prime Minister. In 2020, he was replaced from his post as defense minister after openly criticizing the government's political reforms.[5]

As of December 6, 2020 Lemma has been placed under house arrest. [6]

Personal life

Megersa is a board member of the Assemblies of God in Ethiopia.[7]

His family have fled to America following his arrest by the Abiy Ahmed, once his ally, today no one knows where he is personally locked up. Some believe he is still in house arrest [8] while some believe he has been deliberately locked away from the public.

References
  1. "Lemma Megersa: OPride's Oromo Person of the Year 2017 Runner Up". Opride.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. "Who will become Ethiopia's new prime minister and how?". The East African. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  3. "Lammaa Magarsaa: A sweet-talking lackey or a genuine man of the people?". OPride.com. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  4. "Ethiopia's regime flirts with letting dissidents speak without locking them up". The Economist. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  5. "Ethiopia DM replaced after criticising PM Abiy amid ethnic violence". Middle East Monitor. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  6. "Defence Minister, Lemma Megersa, is under a house arrest as of this morning". Kichuu. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  7. "God wants Ethiopians to prosper: The prime minister and many of his closest allies follow a fast-growing strain of Christianity (Pentecostalism in Ethiopia)". The Economist. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  8. "Defence Minister, Lemma Megersa, is under a house arrest as of this morning". Kichuu. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
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