believed they were finally entering a new era of political sunshine.

The 47-year-old engineer and father of three daughters, is considered moderate and affable, compared to Meles Zenawi, Desalegn's charismatic predecessor. Zenawi ruled the country with an increasingly iron fist following the bloody 2005 elections.

A technocrat, Hailemariam Desalegn was a former provincial governor, foreign minister and deputy prime minister. He was also one of the closest confidants of Zenawi. Since he comes from one of Ethiopia's smallest ethnic groups, the Wolayta, many saw Desalagn as the best compromise candidate in the midst of political and economic infighting between the dominant Amhara, Oromos and Tigreer ethnic groups.

All hail Hailemariam

"Appointing someone from a small population like the Wolayta who have not traditionally been part of the power elite can have astrong symbolic value," Jason Mosley, an expert on Ethiopia at the Chatham House think tank, told DW in an interview. "But of course it has to work in practice."

Opposition politician Wondemagegn Demeke of the All Ethiopia Unity Party (AEUP) shares Mosley's view. "Hailemariam's appointment is unprecedented in the history of our country, because he was not part of the armed struggle. We were all surprised,"

Successive governments have neglected the Ogaden region

The opposition had been concerned that the succession would undermine the country's constitution. Fortunately that did not happen. But, according to Wondemagegen, the appointment of a new secretary of state showed that the executive is still controlled by the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). "Therefore, we regret that there has been no change in