10 Facts About Fitsum Arega

Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan is an Ethiopian diplomat who is the current Ethiopian Ambassador to Canada.

Fitsum Arega was the Director General of the Ethiopian Investment Commission and the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and served as Ethiopia's Ambassador to the United States.

Fitsum Arega presented his credentials to Governor General of Canada Mary Simon in September 2022.

Fitsum Arega attended the University of Manchester, where he received a master's degree in Development Economics and Policy Management.

Fitsum Arega later received an MBA degree from Open University Business School, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Birmingham.

In 2020, Fitsum Arega opposed reported plans by the United States government to cut funding to Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Fitsum Arega described the dam as a project that "will pull Ethiopia out of darkness".

Fitsum Arega celebrated reports that the US would restore aid to Ethiopia in February 2021, reiterated his support for the GERD.

Fitsum Arega claimed it would help provide electricity to 60 million people and boost environmental efforts.

In 2021, Fitsum Arega announced the establishment of the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee.