2010 became the first non-combatant chairman of the ANDM, replacing Addisu Legesse. Demekes first role on the national level within the ruling EPRDF coalition began in 2008, when he took over the post of Minister of Education under the then Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. He continued to serve as minister until July 2013, when he resigned due to his heavy workload as deputy prime minister. Demeke had assumed the role in September 2012 under Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. The main task given to Demeke in 2012 was the coordination of efforts to implement and further the Growth and Transformation Plan across all governmental ministries and agencies. In late 2015, the lower than expected spring and summer rains and the upcoming El Nino event resulted in a severe drought in Ethiopia in 2016, considered the worst drought in 30 years, with up to 10% of Ethiopians in the eastern and southern parts of Ethiopia requiring international assistance to survive in 2016 and 2017. Demeke was assigned to the task to organize the government response and to organize the food aid provided by international organizations. On 15 February 2018, then Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his resignation. It was then expected that the ruling EPRDF would name deputy prime minister Demeke as the successor to Hailemariam, but this did not happen. Instead, Hailemariam continued as a caretaker until the election of a new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, on 2 April 2018. Demeke Mekonnen was kept as deputy prime minister under the new government. See also List of heads of government of Ethiopia References External Links 21st-century Ethiopian politicians Amhara Democratic Party politicians Living people Ethiopian Muslims Deputy Prime Ministers of Ethiopia Government ministers of Ethiopia People from Amhara Region Addis Ababa University alumni 1963 births Education ministers