Fitsum Arega

Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan (Amharic: ፍፁም አረጋ ገብረኪዳን) is an Ethiopian diplomat who is the current Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States.[1] He was the Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.[2] He presented his credentials to President Donald Trump on 10 April 2019.[3]

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Fitsum, and not as Arega.
Fitsum Arega
ፍፁም አረጋ
Fitsum in 2020
Ambassador of Ethiopia to the United States
Assumed office
10 April 2019
Prime MinisterAbiy Ahmed
Preceded byKassa Tekleberhan
Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission
In office
5 November 2018 – 24 December 2018
Succeeded byAbebe Abebayehu
Chief of Staff of Prime Minister of Ethiopia
In office
26 April 2018 – 5 November 2018
Succeeded byShimelis Abdisa
Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission
In office
February 2013 – 25 April 2018
Succeeded byBelachew Mekuria
Personal details
BornAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
EducationUniversity of Manchester (M.A.)
Open University (M.B.A)
University of Birmingham (PgD)

Early life and education

Fitsum was born and raised in Addis Ababa, and received his higher education in the United Kingdom. He attended the University of Manchester, where he received a master's degree in Development Economics and Policy Management. He later received an MBA degree from Open University (OU) Business School, as well as a PgD from the University of Birmingham.[4]

Diplomatic career

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

In 2020, Fitsum opposed reported plans by the United States government to cut funding to Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). He described the dam as a project that "will pull Ethiopia out of darkness".[5]

Fitsum celebrated reports that the U.S. would restore aid to Ethiopia in February 2021, reiterated his support for the GERD. Fitsum claimed it would help provide electricity to 60 million people and boost environmental efforts.[6]

American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC)

In 2021, Fitsum announced the establishment of the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC). The stated purpose of the newly-formed organization is to entrench the bilateral relationship between the United States and Ethiopia.[7]

References
  1. "President Sahle-Work Appoints 20 Ambassadors". Fana Broadcasting Corporate. 24 December 2018.
  2. Fortune, Addis. "Investment Commission Gets New Head".
  3. @fitsumaregaa (April 10, 2019). "The photo is received today. President Trump remarked "Mr. Ambassador, I look forward to working with you to advance our common agenda & deepen the bonds between our countries. It is a pleasure to welcome you to Washington." Thank you Mr. President @realdonsldtrump #US #Ethiopia" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. "Ambassador - Embassy of Ethiopia". 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  5. "Ethiopia seeks US clarification on reported aid cut over dam". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  6. "US Restoration of Foreign Aid to Ethiopia Signals New Course". VOA. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  7. Editor, Embassy Content (2021-04-05). "American-Ethiopia Public Affairs Committee Established (April 4, 2021) - Embassy of Ethiopia". Retrieved 2021-10-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)


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