Addis Ababa (SLpost)- Former Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada wrote in his memoirs that he once recommended a Muslim candidate for the presidency, arguing that the individual was more qualified and knowledgeable than himself.
According to Gidada’s memoirs, then-Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told him that Ethiopia was not yet prepared to accept a Muslim as head of state.
Gidada said that, when he was being considered for the presidency, there was a Muslim individual whom he believed was better qualified for the position.
“When I was being elected President of Ethiopia, there was one Muslim who knew more than I did. Since he was more suitable than me, I proposed to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi that he should become president.”
Gidada said Meles responded that Ethiopia was not, at that time, ready to accept a Muslim leader.
“Meles told me that Ethiopia was not ready at that time to accept Muslim leadership. When I realized that such a way of thinking existed, I was surprised.”
The account, as presented in Gidada’s memoir, offers a reflection on the political and social considerations that influenced the selection of Ethiopia’s leadership during that period. It also raises broader questions about religious representation and access to the highest political offices in the country.
Negasso Gidada became the first president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia under the 1995 Constitution. He had previously served in the Transitional Government and was involved in the constitutional process, including the drafting and adoption of the constitution.
His presidency was established under a parliamentary system in which executive power was concentrated primarily in the office of the prime minister. Meles Zenawi, who had previously served as president of the Transitional Government, became prime minister after the federal system was formally established.
A Debate That Remains Relevant
Ethiopia has never had a Muslim prime minister or president at the national level. The country’s political leadership has historically been dominated by figures from Ethiopia’s Christian-majority political establishment, despite Muslims constituting approximately 35 percent of the population.
Gidada’s account has gained renewed relevance amid discussions about possible changes to Ethiopia’s political system and the structure of its executive leadership.
A major political debate is currently focused on proposals to reshape the country’s existing system of government. Among the issues under discussion is the possibility of moving toward a structure in which the presidency would assume a more central role in the political system.
Such changes could have significant implications for the distribution of executive power, political representation and the relationship between the presidency and other institutions of government.
The debate also provides an opportunity to revisit longstanding questions about inclusivity in Ethiopia’s political system, including whether citizens from different religious and social backgrounds have equal access to the country’s highest offices.
Gidada’s memoir therefore provides a historical perspective on an issue that continues to resonate in contemporary Ethiopian political discussions: whether leadership positions at the highest level should reflect the country’s religious and demographic diversity.
Reporting by Somalilandpost News
