Shimelis Abdisa re-elected Oromia president as regional council opens new term

Oromia’s regional council re-elected Shimelis Abdisa as president on September 28, 2026, at the opening of its new term in Adama, according to Ethiopian news reports.

The Reporter said 509 council members backed Shimelis. Addis Media Network separately reported that the council endorsed his reappointment unanimously and that he was sworn in. Fana’s report also confirmed his re-election as the council began its seventh working term.

The vote was accompanied by changes in the regional executive. According to The Reporter, the council approved Kefyalew Tefera as vice president and the government’s representative to the council, succeeding Awelo Abdi. Kefyalew, who heads the Prosperity Party’s Oromia branch office, had nominated Shimelis for the presidency; Shimelis then proposed Kefyalew for the two positions.

The Reporter also said the council filled 21 executive positions proposed by Shimelis. These included Tola Beriso as head of the regional president’s office, Guye Wario at the Justice Bureau, Abdulaziz Dawud at the Finance Bureau and Tesfaye Tulu at the Revenue Bureau.

The decisions establish the leadership team for the council’s new term. In his inaugural remarks, Shimelis pledged to fulfil his administration’s commitments to the public, Addis Media Network reported.