- Ethiopia appoints new president, replacing the first female head of state
- Taye Astike Selassie has been approved as the new president
- It’s believed the former president had fallen out with the prime minister
- The role of president is largely ceremonial, with political power is held by the PM
Ethiopia appoints new president, replacing the first female head of state
Ethiopia’s parliament has approved Taye Astike Selassie, the country’s foreign minister since February, as its new president, replacing Sahle-Work Zewde, the nation’s first female head of state. The role of president in Ethiopia is largely ceremonial, with political power held by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Sahle-Work’s appointment in 2018 was seen as a milestone for gender equality in Ethiopian politics, but recent reports suggest she had fallen out with Prime Minister Abiy. In a cryptic social media post, Sahle-Work hinted at her frustration after a year of silence. Sources indicate she had been eager to step down, with her term set to end later this month.
During her presidency, Sahle-Work advocated for peace but faced criticism for not addressing gender-based violence during the Tigray conflict. She is also believed to have been concerned about ongoing conflicts in the Oromia and Amhara regions.
Taye, 68, an experienced diplomat and ally of Abiy, was sworn in by parliament on Monday. His appointment leaves Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan as Africa’s only female head of state.
