Ashagre Yigletu

Ashagre Yigletu (; born 1938) is an Ethiopian economist, politician and diplomat.

Derg era politics Ashagre Yigletu was educated in Yugoslavia. He obtained B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in International Economics from the University of Belgrade's School of Economics. He emerged as a prominent civilian figure from the early period of the Ethiopian revolution.

He was appointed Minister of Commerce and Tourism in 1977. When the Workers' Party of Ethiopia was founded in 1984 Ashagre Yigletu became the secretary for international relations of the party.

Peace talks Ashagre Yigletu was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. He took part in peace talks with the EPLF hosted by the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, United States in September 1989. He signed the following November 1989 peace deal with the EPLF in Nairobi, along with Jimmy Carter and Al-Amin Mohamed Said. However, soon after the deal was signed hostilities resumed. Ashagre Yigletu also led the Ethiopian government delegations in peace talks with the TPLF leader Meles Zenawi in November 1989 and March 1990 in Rome. Ashagre Yigletu led the Ethiopian delegation in the peace talks with the EPLF in Washington, D.C., in March 1991. During a cocktail party hosted by the U.S. State Department in connection with these talks, Ashagre Yigletu was seen conversing cordially with the Eritrean leader Isaias Afewerki (much to the surprise of analysts on Ethiopian politics).

Later life Ashagre Yigletu moved to the United States. As of 2006, he served as Professor of Economics and Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.