This is a list of presidents of Ethiopia, and also a list of heads of state after the fall of the Ethiopian Empire in 1974.
Until the Ethiopian Revolution of 1974, the heads of state of Ethiopia were either emperors or regents. From the coup d'état of the Derg leading to the fall of the empire in September 1974 until March 1975, the Derg considered the crown prince Asfaw Wossen (later regnal name Amha Selassie) as the king (not emperor) and the nominal head of state – which the crown prince refused to accept. During this time, the chairmen of the Derg, the leaders of the Derg, were to be considered as acting heads of state. On 21 March 1975, the Derg military junta abolished the monarchy and fully took over. Until the establishment of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in 1987, still dominated by Derg figures, chairmen of the Derg have to be considered heads of state – but not presidents. After the fall of the Derg and the establishment of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia in 1991, the first immediate president (Meles Zenawi) has to be considered an Interim President.
Since the formal establishment of the office of president in 1987, there have been 6 official presidents. The president is the head of state of Ethiopia. The current president is Taye Atske Selassie, elected on 7 October 2024 by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly.
List of officeholders In the list, the chairmen of the Derg are considered to be heads of state – but are not considered to be president. Consequently, the numbering starts with the first establishment of the office of the president of Ethiopia in 1987.
Portrait Name Term of office Party Elected Took office Left office Time in office • Derg (Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia) (1974–1987) • Position not established (12 – 15 September 1974) – Lieutenant generalAman Mikael Andom 15 September 1974 17 November 1974 Military — – MajorMengistu Haile Mariam 17 November 1974 28 November 1974 Military — – Brigadier generalTafari Benti 28 November 1974 3 February 1977 Military — – Lieutenant colonelMengistu Haile Mariam 3 February 1977 10 September 1987 MilitaryCOPWEWPE — • People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987–1991) • 1 Mengistu Haile Mariam 10 September 1987 21 May 1991 WPE 1987 – Tesfaye Gebre Kidan 21 May 1991 27 May 1991 Independent — Vacant during the fall of the Derg regime (27 – 28 May 1991) • Transitional Government of Ethiopia (1991–1995) • – Meles Zenawi 28 May 1991 21 August 1995 TPLF — • Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995–present) • – Meles Zenawi 21 August 1995 22 August 1995 TPLF – 2 Negasso Gidada 22 August 1995 8 October 2001 ODP 1995 Independent 3 Girma Wolde-Giorgis 8 October 2001 7 October 2013 Independent 20012007 4 Mulatu Teshome 7 October 2013 25 October 2018 ODP 2013 5 Sahle-Work Zewde 25 October 2018 7 October 2024 Independent 2018 6 Taye Atske Selassie 7 October 2024 Incumbent Independent 2024
Timeline
See also Emperor of Ethiopia List of emperors of Ethiopia President of Ethiopia Prime Minister of Ethiopia List of heads of government of Ethiopia Rulers of Ethiopia Vice President of Ethiopia
Notes
References
External links World Statesmen – Ethiopia
et:Etioopia riigipeade loend#Presidendid