Ex-Ethiopian PM Receives Japanese Imperial Award

ADDIS ABEBA – Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn has received Japanese government’s the 2019 Spring Imperial Decoration Award on Friday.

The award was given to Hailemariam at a ceremony held at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan Daisuke Matsunaga.

Japan recognized Hailemariam along with other 142 foreign officials for notable contributions to relations between their countries and Tokyo, its foreign minister said.

Hailemariam, 53, received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from the hands of Japanese ambassador Daisuke.

Upon announcing the recognition in May, the embassy said as the IGAD chair and a UN Security Council member, Ethiopia built and strengthened its cooperation with Japan’s efforts toward South Sudan’s stabilization.

It said PM had played a big role.

“In appreciation of Japan’s contribution to peace and stability in Africa, former PM Hailemariam supported Japan’s position on multilateral issues and collaborated with the country”.

Former prime minister Hailemariam resigned unexpectedly saying, in his televised speech on Feb 15 last year, it was “vital” in a bid to end unrest and political upheaval of his last two years in office.

Hailemariam led the country from 2012 to 2018.