Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn addresses both the local and international journalists in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Jan. 9, 2017. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has submitted a resignation letter, state-affiliated media outlet Radio Fana said on Thursday.

Desalegn, 52, took over the position of PM soon after the death of late former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in August 2012.

Desalegn, who is chairman of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has been hailed for his technocratic expertise.

But, he has struggled to rise politically above the shadow of Meles who was the nation's prime minister from 1995 to 2012.

In recent months, internal political wrangling among four coalition partners of EPRDF, including Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, Amhara National Democratic Movement, South Ethiopia People's Democratic Movement and Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization (OPDO), has cast fears about the stability of the nation of about 100 million people.

Ethiopia is also reeling from persistent deadly protests since 2016 especially in the two most populous regional states of Amhara and Oromia over alleged political and economic marginalization.

It's not immediately clear who will replace Desalegn. But speculation among public is that OPDO, which rules Oromia, the most populous Ethiopian regional state, is angling to have its candidate take over the prime ministerial post.