1. Merera Gudina was born on 5 July 1956 and is an Ethiopian professor and politician.
12 Facts About Merera Gudina
1. 2.
Merera Gudina is the leader of the Oromo People's Congress, a political party representing the Oromo people.
3.
Merera Gudina has been described as Ethiopian "leading opposition politician".
4.
Merera Gudina participates in several scholarly conferences worldwide, including in the United States, concerning political and social developments of Ethiopia.
5.
Merera Gudina founded the Oromo National Congress in 1996, which became the largest Oromo opposition group by parliament seats after the 2005 national elections.
6.
Merera Gudina's OFC had allied with several other parties to form the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces.
7.
Merera Gudina believes in the self-determination of Oromo people and self-rule under Ethiopia umbrella.
8.
Merera Gudina's party wants to make Afan Oromo the co-official language of Ethiopia to empower Oromo people politically, socially and economically.
9.
Merera Gudina has said Oromo people have historically participated in the creation of modern Ethiopia, including the monarchy.
10.
Merera Gudina was detained at the Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia upon his return from Europe in December 2016.
11.
On 3 March 2017, Ethiopian prosecutors formally charged Merera Gudina with supporting terrorism, which he denied.
12.
Merera Gudina was released from the Kaliti Prison in January 2018.