- Ethiopia’s prime minister has resigned on February 15, 2018 amid amid protracted anti-government protests.
- Mr Hailemariam Desalegn was in power since 2012.
- His stepping down is seen as an unprecedented even in the east African country.
- Since 2015 , many people have died in violence sparked initially by an urban development plan for the capital, Addis Ababa.
- Hailemariam, succeeded the former Marxist rebel Meles Zenawi in 2012, under whom he had served as deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
- In 2015, months of anti-government demonstrations spread across Ethiopia, prompting parliament to declare a 10-month nationwide state of emergency in October 2016.