Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn suddenly resigned on Thursday in what he described as a bid to smooth reforms, following years of violent unrest that threatened the ruling party’s hold on Africa’s second most populous nation. The prime minister leads the nation under Ethiopia’s political system and Hailemariam’s decision to quit underscores the depth of division within the ruling coalition over how fast to pursue political openness. Violence, then reformsHailemariam’s resignation follows a reshuffle in ruling party that began in November and sidelined a number of senior members, including the widow of the former prime minister. The prime minister had pushed for even more prisoner releases, said a regional analyst familiar with Ethiopian politics. “He (the Prime Minister) wanted more prisoners released – I think he wanted to empty the jails of all political prisoners.

Source: Egypt Independent February 15, 2018 13:30 UTC