Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to visit Minneapolis on Monday – Twin Cities

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will speak Monday at the Target Center in Minneapolis as part of a three-city visit to the United States

His visit aims to strengthen the involvement of The Ethiopian Diaspora According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ongoing reforms, development and democratization in Ethiopia

According to the ministry's Facebook page, the theme of the Prime Minister's visit is "Tear up the wall, build a bridge! "

The 13 hours The event is free for all Ethiopians and their friends, according to the website of the Target Center

Abiy is the first Ethiopian leader of the Oromo ethnic group, which represents about a third of the Ethiopian population took office as prime minister in February when former leader Hailemariam Desalegn unexpectedly resigned

Minnesota is home to largest Oromo diaspora According to Oba Hbadan of the Ethiopian Coalition on Minnesota The state is home to 40,000 Ethiopians. [19659002] Abiy's was voiced in Washington on Saturday, and the Ethiopian embbady described the event as "very successful" in a post on Facebook. He met Friday with Vice President Mike Pence.

The White House issued a statement affirming that Pence "reaffirmed the long-standing partnership of the United States with the Ethiopian people and hailed the efforts of the United States. The Vice President encouraged continued Ethiopian leadership in resolving regional conflicts in the Horn of Africa, as well as strengthening trade and investment between the US and Ethiopia. "

Abiy's is being sung in Los Angeles." In the three months since he came to power, the 41-year-old politician has made radical changes to Ethiopia, lifting him up. 39, a state of emergency, negotiating peace with neighboring Eritrea and releasing hundreds of political prisoners.These spectacular steps towards liberalization have triggered abiy-mania within the Ethiopian diaspora to the states. United States, which for decades was among the fiercest critics of the ruling party's autocratic regime. "

The Post reports that about 300,000 Ethiopians live in the Washington area, making it the largest community outside of Africa

Gov. Mark Dayton, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will greet the Prime Minister and his delegation as they arrive in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Monday morning.