Ethiopia on Thursday appointed a woman to the largely
ceremonial position of president for the first time, further increasing female
representation in the government of Africa's second most populous nation.
In a unanimous vote, Ethiopian lawmakers picked career
diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde, 68, to replace Mulatu Teshome who resigned in
unclear circumstances.
Ethiopia's reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last week
appointed a slimline 20-person cabinet in which half the posts are held by
women.
Career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde has been Ethiopia's
ambassador to France, Djibouti, Senegal and the regional bloc, the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
They include defence minister Aisha Mohammed and Muferiat
Kamil who leads the newly-created Ministry of Peace, responsible for police and
domestic intelligence agencies.
'If the current change in Ethiopia is headed equally by both
men and women, it can sustain its momentum and realise a prosperous Ethiopia
free of religious, ethnic and gender discrimination,' Sahle-Work said Thursday.
Sahle-Work, who was born in the capital Addis Ababa and
attended university in France, has been Ethiopia's ambassador to France,
Djibouti, Senegal and the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD).
Just prior to her appointment as president she was the UN's
top official at the African Union. She is fluent in English and French as well
as Amharic, Ethiopia's main language.
As president she is expected to serve two six-year terms.
'Mulatu has shown us the way for change and hope, he has
shown life continues before and after leaving power. I call on others to heed
his example and be ready for change,' said Sahle-Work in a speech to
parliament.
Very good!
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