<p>Professor Woldemariam was a humanitarian, renowned activist and academic who studied in the USA and India. A propellant of law and order through politics, he critiqued Ethiopia's tradition of ethnic appointments for government officials. In 2005, he played a crucial role in the formation of the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-47639452" target="_blank">"Coalition for Unity and Democracy" (CUD)</a> which opposed the TPLF-led government and defeated the ruling party at the ballot box.</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>Woldemariam endeavored scholarship and continued to offer philosophical and political critique on Ethiopia throughout his career. <a href="https://borkena.com/2020/09/30/mesfin-woldemariam-died-at-the-aged-of-90-ethiopia-lost-a-great-man/" target="_blank">He was the voice of the country in 1990</a> when Ethiopia was going through socio-political upheaval. When blogging gained popularity, the Woldemariam seemlessly transitioned to the online world. In the past ten years alone, he published several books in Amharic on Ethiopian politics including <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mekshef-Inde-Ethiopia-Tarik-Amharic/dp/999448544X" target="_blank">Mekshef ende Ethiopia.</a></em></p><p>Ethiopia continues to face <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/ethiopia-protest-oromia/" target="_blank">political unrest</a> as <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/respect-your-elders-fleeing-ethiopia-circa-1970s/" target="_blank">ethnicity</a> still remains a factor for government appointments. <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/ethiopia-politics-abiy-ahmed-ends-internet-shutdown/" target="_blank">Internet shutdowns</a> have been constantly used to diffuse social demonstrations and protests. Oromo musician <strong><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53298845" target="_blank">Hachula Hundessa</a> </strong>was allegedly shot and killed in public in an alleged government-ordered assassination. Hundessa's music criticised the government and allegedly roused Ethiopians to <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/ethiopians-protest-prime-minister-abiy-ahmed-burn-books/" target="_blank">challenge the ruling party</a>.</p><p>Professor Woldermariam received his <a href="https://www.latestnewssouthafrica.com/2020/09/30/ethiopian-academic-and-human-rights-activist-professor-mesfin-woldemariam-dies-at-90/" target="_blank">PhD from Clark University in 2007 </a>with a dissertation on Rural Vulnerability to Famine in Ethiopia. Reports of having tested positive for the coronavirus emerged only eleven days ago. He was 90-years-old and served as a geography professor at Addis Ababa University.</p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>Those on social media reacted to news of Woldermariam's passing below:</p><div id="64c53" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aa5d690de197df0700f82ea6e05555eb"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1311197283170627584" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">RIP Prof Mesfin, a beloved family friend, inspiration to many and a rebel to the end. A giant has fallen. #Ethiopia https://t.co/YSsdSg3BMk</div> — Eleni Gabre-Madhin (@Eleni Gabre-Madhin)<a href="https://twitter.com/EleniGabre/statuses/1311197283170627584">1601448767.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id="34919" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="99c8f959c98077545b9be18af55779ca"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1311153822836944896" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Professor Mesfin Woldemariam has passed away at the just of 90. He was an Ethiopian academic, author, politician an… https://t.co/aSBHLDIIjW</div> — Samson Berhane Asmelash🇪🇹 (@Samson Berhane Asmelash🇪🇹)<a href="https://twitter.com/BerhaneSamson/statuses/1311153822836944896">1601438406.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id="17d1a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4006e07f3437ead7f69b6458fed46aef"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1311181812970987520" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The one and the only, the defiant, the true human right advocate when no one was there!
Thank you Prof.
Rest in p… https://t.co/pWHQyW4NIi</div> — ሰለሞን መንገሻ #GERD (@ሰለሞን መንገሻ #GERD)<a href="https://twitter.com/SoloEthioZ/statuses/1311181812970987520">1601445079.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id="65d46" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="de3ce92734d5da8f3e34bd2935638e43"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1311164635391971328" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Very sad to hear news of Professor Mesfin Woldemariam’s passing. A monumental loss for #Ethiopia. 💔 Thank you for e… https://t.co/zvFnW8XYpB</div> — Yeabsira (@Yeabsira)<a href="https://twitter.com/luvwstlyf/statuses/1311164635391971328">1601440983.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id="88853" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4ffdf91ed01403abd25f379826fb53ba"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1311296356837883910" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Rest in peace Professor. Mesfin Woldemariam #Ethiopia https://t.co/JR0j7l449s</div> — Bereket Teketel 💚💛❤️ (@Bereket Teketel 💚💛❤️)<a href="https://twitter.com/ingenioussight/statuses/1311296356837883910">1601472388.0</a></blockquote></div>
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