Mulatu Teshome
Who was Mulatu Teshome?
Ethiopian diplomat and politician who served as President of Ethiopia from 2013 to 2018.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Mulatu Teshome (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, born in 1957 in Arjo, in present-day Oromia, Ethiopia, studied at Peking University in China. This experience helped him become fluent in Mandarin and learn about Chinese political and economic ideas. His time in China was during a period when Ethiopia was closely connected with socialist countries, which influenced his views on governance and international relations.
Teshome had a distinguished career in Ethiopian diplomacy before becoming the country’s ceremonial head of state. He served as Ethiopia's ambassador to Japan, Austria, and Turkey, building a strong reputation as a capable diplomat. These roles gave him broad international experience that would be beneficial as the head of state. His ability to speak multiple languages, including Chinese, was valuable as Ethiopia strengthened its partnerships with Asian countries.
In 2013, the Ethiopian parliament elected Mulatu Teshome as President of Ethiopia, a mostly ceremonial position, with executive power held by the Prime Minister and the ruling party. He took over from Girma Wolde-Giorgis. As president, Teshome acted as a figurehead for Ethiopia during a time of significant economic growth and increasing global interest in the country. He hosted foreign dignitaries, went on state visits, and represented Ethiopia at international events.
Teshome served as president until 2018, a year marked by major political changes in Ethiopia. Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister, bringing in reforms and political shifts. As part of these changes, Sahle-Work Zewde was elected as the new president by parliament in October 2018, making her Africa's first female head of state. Teshome's departure came during what many saw as a significant political transition for Ethiopia.
Throughout his career, Mulatu Teshome was part of a generation of Ethiopian officials shaped by Cold War alliances and the country's efforts to integrate into the global community after the Derg regime. His education and diplomatic experience connected him to different periods of Ethiopian foreign policy, from the ideological alignments of the late 20th century to the more practical, development-focused diplomacy of the 2000s and 2010s.
Before Fame
Mulatu Teshome grew up in Arjo, a small town in western Ethiopia, during one of the most challenging times in the country's modern history. His early years coincided with the last years of Emperor Haile Selassie's rule and the 1974 revolution that brought the Derg military council to power. Against this backdrop of major political change, he pursued higher education abroad, studying at Peking University in China. There, he was part of a group of Ethiopian students who received training in socialist countries during the 1970s and 1980s.
After returning to Ethiopia, Teshome joined the diplomatic service, gradually building a career with assignments across Asia and Europe. His language skills and international perspective made him well-suited for ambassadorial roles, and he gained decades of experience representing Ethiopia in both bilateral and multilateral settings before being selected as a candidate for the presidency in 2013.
Key Achievements
- Served as President of Ethiopia from 2013 to 2018, representing the state during a period of sustained economic growth and heightened international engagement.
- Completed a distinguished ambassadorial career with postings to Japan, Austria, and Turkey, strengthening Ethiopia's bilateral diplomatic relationships.
- Graduated from Peking University, becoming one of the few Ethiopian statespeople of his era with advanced academic training in China and proficiency in Mandarin.
- Provided institutional continuity and stability in the presidential office during the political transition that brought Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to power in 2018.
- Represented Ethiopia at numerous international forums and state engagements, contributing to the country's profile during a decade of significant foreign investment and infrastructure development.
Did You Know?
- 01.Mulatu Teshome studied at Peking University and became fluent in Mandarin Chinese, a rare skill among senior African statespeople of his generation.
- 02.He served as Ethiopian ambassador to Japan, Austria, and Turkey at various points in his diplomatic career before becoming president.
- 03.His home town of Arjo is located in what is now the Oromia region of Ethiopia, and he is an ethnic Oromo, reflecting the regional diversity of Ethiopian national leadership.
- 04.He was succeeded as president by Sahle-Work Zewde in 2018, who became the first woman to serve as a sitting head of state on the African continent.
- 05.His election to the presidency in 2013 came through a parliamentary vote, consistent with Ethiopia's constitutional system in which the president is elected by the Federal Parliamentary Assembly rather than by direct popular vote.