Firew Altaye Gebremedhin or ፍሬው አልታዬ ገብረመድህን was born on 2 August 1966. He was an

Ethiopian Ethiopians are the native inhabitants of Ethiopia, as well as the global diaspora of Ethiopia. Ethiopians constitute several component ethnic groups, many of which are closely related to ethnic groups in neighboring Eritrea and other parts of ...

politician and second chief administrator of

Wolayita Zone Wolayita or Wolaita is an administrative zone in Ethiopia. It is named for the Welayta people, whose homeland is in the zone. Wolayita is bordered on the south by Gamo Gofa, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from Dawro, on the no ...

, from 2002 to 2004 and he was succeeded by Amanuel Otoro. He served as member of

Ethiopian parliament The Federal Parliamentary Assembly ( am, የፌዴራል ፓርላማ ምክር ቤት, Ye-Fēdēralawī Parilama Mikir Bēt) is Ethiopia's federal legislature. It consists of two chambers: *The House of Federation (upper chamber) *The House ...

from 2001 to 2002.

Early life

Firew Altaye was born in

Boloso Sore Boloso Sore is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone, Boloso Sore is bordered on the south by Sodo Zuria and Damot Sore, on the west by Boloso Bombe, on the northeast by the Kembata T ...

in Wolaita,

Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...

, and he completed his primary education in Hembecho Saint Michael Missionary School. He also completed his secondary education in

wolaita Sodo Sodo ( am, ሶዶ) or Wolaita Sodo ( am, ወላይታ ሶዶ) or (Wolaitta language, Wolaytatto: ''Wolayta Sodo Ambbaa'') is a city in south-central Ethiopia. The administrative center of the Wolaita Zone. It has a latitude and longitude of wit ...

comprehensive high school. After completing his secondary education, he attended in

Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa University (AAU) ( am, አዲስ አበባ ዩኒቨርሲቲ) is a national university located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is the oldest university in Ethiopia. AAU has thirteen campuses. Twelve of these are situated in Addis Ababa, ...

and got first degree in 1990. He got MA degree from University of Amsterdam in International law and until his death he ruled Wolaita zone.

Political career

Frew Altaye, who was the chief administrator of

for a short period of time and designer of everything for the development of the nation. To this end, on February 21, 2011, the then Chief administrator,

Dagato Kumbe Dagato Kumbe Kolcha is an Ethiopian politician serving as Deputy commissioner of Ethiopian Investment Commission since January 2024. Dagato is from the Wolaita people and previously served as chief administrator of Wolayita Zone. Career Dagat ...

, laid the foundation stone for a monument in his name in

Wolaita Sodo Sodo ( am, ሶዶ) or Wolaita Sodo ( am, ወላይታ ሶዶ) or (Wolaitta language, Wolaytatto: ''Wolayta Sodo Ambbaa'') is a city in south-central Ethiopia. The administrative center of the Wolaita Zone. It has a latitude and longitude of wit ...

. He fought against ethnic chuavinisim which is so called Wogagoda. This event led to widespread protests by all social strata of the Wolaita population in 1998 that eventually resulted in Wolaytta having a zonal status and the recognition of its distinct language in November 2000. Firew fought corruption, Sincere and diligent, courageous and determined development man, developmentalist who put the public interest before his own. Firew Altaye mobilized Wolayita people and built the beautiful and attractive Wolayita Gutara meeting and entertainment hall. Firew served as officer of Wolayita Zone Justice Department, Chairman of

Damot Weyde Damot Weyde is a woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Wolayita Zone located in the Great Rift Valley, Damot Weyde is bordered on the south by Humbo, on the west by Sodo Zuria, on the northwest by ...

Woreda Teachers Association, Chairman of the

North Omo Zone North Omo Zone ( Amharic: ሰሜን ኦሞ) was a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It was named after the Omo River, which flows in the western area of the former zone. In 2000 it was split into three ...

Teachers Association and as well vice-chairman of the Ethiopian Teachers Association. He also served as member of the EPRDF and

SEPDM The Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM) was a political party in Ethiopia. At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, that won 327 out of 527 s ...

Central Committee, a diplomat at the FDRE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Wolayita Zone chief Administrator.

References

{{reflist Wolayita 20th-century Ethiopian politicians People from Wolayita Zone 1966 births 2004 deaths