Addisu Arega Kitessa was born in 1982 in Dorani, Ilubabor, Ethiopia. He was appointed Minister of Agriculture in August 2025.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from Addis Ababa University and a Master of Science degree in Transformational Leadership and Change from the University of Greenwich.
Addisu has held leadership roles at both regional and federal levels. He previously served as Vice President of the Oromia Regional State, where his portfolio included rural, social, and urban development. In 2019, he was appointed Head of the Central Committee Office of the Oromo Democratic Party (ODP). During this period, he was involved in the process leading to the merger of the ODP into the Prosperity Party, Ethiopia’s ruling party under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
As Minister of Agriculture, Addisu is responsible for leading Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation efforts, with stated priorities including mechanization, irrigation development, and market-oriented agriculture. His work is directed toward enhancing productivity, strengthening food and nutrition security, building climate resilience, and improving the livelihoods of farmers and pastoralists.