Mohamed Hassan Yayo, the guy heading up the tourism infrastructure department, said the renovation’s about 85% done. The work is being paid for with money made from sales of the Medemer book, but things haven’t exactly been smooth sailing.
One big issue? There just aren’t enough skilled workers in the area. That’s meant bringing in people from Addis Abeba to help finish the job.
During a recent site visit, Committee Chairwoman Asha Yahya didn’t hold back her concerns. She said the pace of work is too slow and urged everyone involved to step it up. The goal is to wrap things up on time so the palace—and nearby historic spots like Fitawrari Yayo Hamedu’s old home—can finally open to visitors.
Who Was Sultan Alimirah Hanfare?
Sultan Alimirah Hanfare, also known by his title Bitwoded, was the Sultan of Aussa from 1944 all the way until he passed away in 2011. He took over the throne after his uncle, Mohammad Yayyo, stepped down.
Although he didn’t have much official power under Ethiopia’s emperor at the time, Haile Selassie I, Sultan Alimirah was still a big deal—especially among the Afar people. As a major landowner and respected cultural and spiritual leader, his influence went far beyond politics. During his rule, he worked hard to modernize farming in Afar, brought in foreign investment, helped people get access to credit, and pushed for better infrastructure.
Things took a turn after the monarchy was overthrown by the Derg regime in the 1970s. Because he supported the emperor and owned a lot of land, the new socialist government saw him as a threat. In 1975, after a violent raid on his hometown of Asaita, he had to flee the country. While in exile, he founded the Afar Liberation Front to stand up for his people and fight back against the regime.
When the Derg was finally ousted in 1991, Sultan Alimirah returned to Ethiopia. At first, he backed the new leadership under Meles Zenawi. But the relationship quickly went downhill—especially when it came to the Sultan's push to keep Afar communities in Eritrea part of a unified Afar region in Ethiopia. That disagreement, among others, led to him being sidelined in local politics.
Sultan Alimirah passed away on April 24, 2011, and his son Hanfare Alimirah took over. Even beyond Afar, many Ethiopians admired him for standing up to the Derg, his love for his country, and his fight to keep Ethiopia united.