Bulcha Demeksa
Bulcha Demeksa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement | |
| In office 2005–2012 | |
| Member of Oromo Federalist Congress | |
| In office 2012 – 5 January 2025 | |
| Constituency | Mirab (West) Welega |
| Member of the House of Peoples' Representatives for Mirab (West) Welega | |
| In office 2005–2010 | |
| Member of Parliament for OFDM | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 July 1930 Bodji, Wollega, Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 6 January 2025 (aged 94) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Political party | OFC |
| Other political affiliations | OFDM |
| Profession | Politician businessman |
Bulcha Demeksa (9 July 1930[1] – 6 January 2025)[2] was an Ethiopian politician and businessman. He was the founder of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), one of Ethiopia's largest opposition parties.
Career
[edit]In 1967, Bulcha was appointed vice-minister of Finance before representing his country at the board of the World Bank. In 1974, when the Ethiopian Revolution started, he left Ethiopia and was hired by the UN administration. Bulcha took his retirement in Ethiopia in 1991, and in 1994, he created the Awash International Bank which became a success.[3]
In early 2005, Bulcha founded the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), which he saw as a non-military, democratic political party as an alternative to the armed Oromo Liberation Front.[3]
Bulcha Demeksa has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the late Meles Zenawi's government and the opposition leader most referred by the international media. With other opposition officials, he helped with the creation of Medrek, a larger opposition alliance.
Bulcha resigned as OFDM party chairman in late 2010 but continued as an adviser for the leadership. His retirement from OFDM and his harsh criticism of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and on the 2010 elections were a regular feature story on dozens of private Amharic and English newspapers in the country. In 2019 he announced his intention to run in the 2020 elections.[4]
Awards
[edit]At the end of 2008, Bulcha was named "Person of the Year" by Jimma Times, the online version of the defunct Afan Oromo private Yeroo newspaper. He was chosen for his work in the financial sector and his work for human rights and democracy as well as peace activist between different warring sections of the Ethiopian society.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Verdier, Isabelle (6 January 1997). "Ethiopia: The Top 100 People". Indigo Publications – via Google Books.
- ^ የምጣኔ ሀብት ባለሙያው እና የሰላማዊ ፖለቲካ አቀንቃኙ አቶ ቡልቻ ደመቅሳ (in Amharic) ;
- ^ a b Wiren, Robert (4 April 2005). "Bulcha Demeksa, Chairman of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM)". Les nouvelles d'Addis. Archived from the original on 10 August 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "Bulcha Demeksa announces run for parliament". Ethiopia Observer. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ Bulcha Person of the Year Archived 8 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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