He was listed in a special category of award recipients at a dinner event held in the capital Addis Ababa. The event was principally to honour athlethes, coaches and officials who participated in the 43rd edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championship. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Sahle-Work Zewde were in attendance with deserving persons being awarded certificates and cash sums, the office of the Prime Minister said. The political and security tension of 2016 carried on till early 2018 when Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned to allow for reforms. In came Abiy Ahmed, an Oromo like Lilesa, who has introduced widespread reforms despite the existence of challenges.

Source: Ethiopian News April 10, 2019 01:52 UTC