Mohamouda Ahmed Gaas Explained

Mohamouda Ahmed Gaas is an Ethiopian politician and a member of the Ethiopian ruling party. He was a State (Vice) Minister of the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism up until October 2010, when he was later moved to Ministry of Science and Technology as a deputy Minister.Mohamouda Ahmed Gaas founded the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Union (ARDUU) in 1991.[1] ARDUU later became a part of the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF).

Gaas is a Muslim and hails from the AFAR region of Ethiopia. He is married with 4 children and speaks 4 different languages.

Millennium pageant controversy

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which is responsible for developing and promoting tourism in Ethiopia, has been embroiled in a major controversy surrounding a beauty pageant in celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium in 2007.[2] Allegedly Mohamouda Ahmed Gaas and officials from the ministry obtained promotional services from a UK based company for the Ethiopian Millennium[3] [4] [5] but after the event took place refused to pay.[6] Following claims of failure to pay major bills,[7] [8] in December 2009 the company commenced formal legal action in the British courts, seeking a total payment of US$1,022,810.52, comprising US$488.500.00 principal debt and US$543,310.52 interest and late fees.

Notes and References

  1. Yasin Mohammed Yasin, "Political history of the Afar in Ethiopia and Eritrea1" Afrika Spectrum 42 (2008) 1: 39–65
  2. http://nazret.com/blog/index.php?blog=15&m=20090303 Archives for: March 2009, 03 – nazret.com Merkato Blog
  3. http://www.jimmatimes.com/article.cfm?articleID=17236 Miss Tourism Millennium attracts international contestants
  4. http://gadaa.com/oduu/?p=575 » Ethiopia’s State Ministry for Culture and Tourism Corruption Scandal – Gadaa.com Oduu – News
  5. http://www.ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2007/Oct/30Oct07/41417.htm
  6. http://www.ethiomedia.com/aurora/99997.html Ethiopia fails to pay world pageant beauties their money
  7. http://www.afdevinfo.com/htmlreports/peo/peo_2333.html Gaas Mohamuda (Ethiopia)
  8. http://www.meadna.com/business%20page/Commentary%20pages/zeraiselomun/Corrupt%20EPRDF%20Ministers.htm www.meadna.com