Ethiopia’s new prime minister is the first Oromo to head the ruling EPRDF coalition in the country’s 27-year history. Some observers believe he can bring about change in conflict-ridden regions.

After weeks of negotiations behind closed doors, Ethiopia finally has a new prime minister. 41-year-old Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali is set to be confirmed on Saturday, but he has already become something of a sensation. He is the first Oromo chairman of the ruling four-party coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Although the Oromo ethnic group makes up a third of the country’s population of 105 million, so far they have always had a disadvantage against the older ruling Amhara group and the minority Tigre group. The latter has determined the country’s political and economic fortunes for a quarter of a century and control both the military and intelligence services.