Mustafe Agjar emerges most influential Ethiopian politician of the year

Addis-Abab (Somaliland.com) – President of Somali Region of Ethiopia Mr Mustafe Mohamoud Omer (Agjar) has been recognized as the most influential politician for the Ethiopian year which ended last week.

Ethiopia’s capital-based news portal, Addis-Insight, published the names of ten most influential personalities and companies in the Ethiopian calendar year of 2011 (Corresponding to 2018/2019 in other countries), and Mr Mustafe Mohamoud Omer emerged the most influential Ethiopian politician of the year.

For decades, the Somali region has been one of the most troubled regions of the country. The region suffered because of the ex-president Abdi Iley who was known for his iron fist administration and tragic human rights abuses. Mustafa stood up to challenge the former regional administration, and this resulted in his going into exile for years. Abdi Iley threatened him to be quiet but he refused, and in 2016 his brother Faysal was assassinated, as Addis-Insight reports.

Mustafa became acting interim president of the Somali Regional State on 22 August 2018, after Ethiopian military forced Abdi Iley to resign following a standoff with the central government.

After Mustafa took over office as acting interim president, things began to change for the better in the Somali region. He did a lot of work to undo the damage of his predecessor; disbursed funds to the victims of the August 4, 2018 attack and robbery in Jigjiga, reconciled with the rebels of Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), and revived the Somali identity and confidence in the region. Within a year of Mustafa’s administration, the Somali region is has become one of the safest regions in Ethiopia.

In the last 12 months, President Mustafe Agjar became one of the most popular politicians in Ethiopia. He showed a close working relationship with the reformist Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed who has done tremendous work to reform Ethiopia’s constitutional and security sector by lifting the state of emergency, pardoning political prisoners, and establishing a ministry for peace.

The list also included the popular ride-hailing Tech-Company RIDE, famous food start-up EFOY, as Business of the year, and Haile Gebrselassie as the Philanthropist of the year.