Ethiopian former president Negasso Gidada has died in Germany at the age of 76 on Saturday after suffering health problems.
Negasso Gidada Solon was born 3rd September 1943 in Dembidolo, he was an Ethiopian politician and president of Ethiopia from 1995 until 2001.
He was the son of Gidada Solon, one of the first local ministers of a Protestant church in the Dembidolo area in western Ethiopia.
Nagasso held a doctorate in Social History from Germany.
Negasso had been an active member of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) in Europe, and he had been the minister of information in the transitional government of Ethiopia, and central committee member of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organizations (OPDO), when he became president of Ethiopia in August 22nd, 1995.
In July 2008, Negasso became a founding member of the Forum for Democratic Dialogue (FDD), a new coalition of opposition parties and activists. Then in November 2009, he announced he had joined the unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ), one of the eight parties in the FDD, “to try to unite Ethiopia.”
Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed extended his condolences to the people of Ethiopia and his family over the passing of the former president, according to office of the Prime Minister.
A national committee to oversee the funeral arrangements is being established and will communicate the details accordingly, the office added.
MG/abj/APA