[5] During his first tenure at AAU the academy was preserved and even saw its resurgence despite the turbulent times amid the Ethiopian inserruction.
[6] Upon Duri's controversial appointment as president of Addis Ababa University in 1993 by the new government of Ethiopia, 42 staff members were fired including Asrat Woldeyes and former president Alemayehu Teferra.
[7][8] Following the massive sackings, the President of Ethiopia at the time Meles Zenawi stated as director, Duri was at liberty to oversee the institution at his discretion.
[9] He served as Minister for Planning and Economic Development under the Meles Zenawi administration, as well as Ethiopian ambassador to the United Nations from 1996-2001.
[10][11] In 1998 he also briefly served as Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly.