Ethiopia: Coalition confirms Hailemariam Desalegn as Prime Minister

Ethiopia Prime Minister-designate Hailemariam Desalegn. PHOTO/Khaled Elfiqi/EPA

(Reuters) – Ethiopia’s ruling coalition on Saturday approved Hailemariam Desalegn’s appointment as prime minister to replace Meles Zenawi, who died in August, the government spokesman said.

“He is already the Prime Minister as of now but he has to take the oath in the parliament to formalize it,” Bereket Simon told a news conference in the capital.

Desalegn took over in an acting capacity after Zenawi’s death. He also takes over as head of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a coalition of regionally based parties.