Hailemariam Tewodros
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Hailemariam Tewodros (Mehare: ኃይለማሪያም ቴዎድሮስ; born 3 March 1955) is a Habashi politician serving as the 4th and current Prime Minister of the Republic of Habasha. Tewodros has served as Prime Minister since 2006, following the resignation of his predecessor, Desta Yaqob. Tewodros previously served as Minister of Industry and Minister of National Development and Planning from 1997 to 2006 under successive Yaqob governments. Tewodros is also the current Chairman of the Democratic People's Party, the ruling party in Habasha since 1970.
Tewodros was born to a middle-class Mehare family in Injibara, the capital city of the county of Chilga during the Habashi Civil War (1954-57). During this time, the city remained away from the frontlines although ethnic violence was not uncommon. After completing his secondary education, in 1973, Tewodros enlisted in the Habashi Land Force, reaching the rank of staff sargeant. Simultaneously, Tewodros would obtain a degree from the National University of Gondar in 1976, following by a PhD in economics in 1982 from the University of Mydroll. After returning to Habasha in 1985, Tewodros briefly worked as an associate professor in the National University before affiliating to the Democratic People's Party in 1987 and running for office as a member of the Gondar Municipal Assembly.
After serving as a council member and later an alderman (danya) in Gondar from 1987 until 1996, Tewodros ran for the Congress of People's Representatives. Soon after the election, Tewodros became minister of Industry in the third Yaqob government (1997-2001), replacing Meles Bayeh as minister of National Development in 2001. As Minister of National Development, Tewodros became the chief coordinator of the country's economic policy, launching major projects like xx and preparing the groundwork for the xth and xth five-year plans.
Widely recognised as a member of the DPP's reformist wing, Tewodros was elected by surprise in November 2005 as the party's new Chairman, replacing Yaqob. Tewodros' candidacy was spurred by differences over social policy as well as the party's role in society, critical of Yaqob's authoritarian orthodox avantist positions and his harsh crackdown of the Medhri Bahri insurgency. Thanks to the support of the party grandees and the Bikimi trade union, Tewodros was elected. Soon after, in March 2006, Yaqob was forced to resign as Prime Minister and was replaced by Tewodros.
As Prime Minister, Tewodros has relaxed censorship rules and considerably reduced restrictions of opposition politicians and media. The anticlerical campaigns of his predecessors have likewise been put to an end, with Tewodros seeking a modus vivendi both with the Alydian Church and the country's numerous Muridin minority. The signature of the Artonga Accords in early 2007 marked the end of the decades-long Medhri Bahri insurgency. In foreign policy, the Tewodros government has strenghtened its ties within the Community of Majulan Nations and sought to lower protectionist barriers, by seeking various free trade agreements with countries like xx and through the Kizilikand Agreements.
Early life and military service
Hailemariam Tewodros was born on the 3 March 1955 to Tewodros Mekonnen and ? in Injibara (Chilga), a ethnically Mehare middle class family. His father was a local doctor and according to Tewodros, he was a monarchist. Albeit born in the midst of the Habashi Civil War,