Ethiopia appoints first female President
Ethopia has appointed a female President for the first time in its history.
Sahle-Work Zewde will serve in the capacity of a ceremonial president after Ex-president Mulatu Teshome Wirtu resigned from the position on Wednesday.
Zwede, a 68-year-old native of Addis Ababa, had earlier been the country’s Ambassador to Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and the Gambia from 1989 to 1993.
She also served as an Ambassador to France and the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Chief of staff to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Fitsum Arega, described the appointment as a historic move in the country.
“In a historic move, the two Houses have elected Ambassador Sahle-Work Zewde as the next President of Ethiopia,” Arega said in a tweet Thursday morning.
“She is the first female head of state in modern Ethiopia. A career diplomat & senior official at the UN. She brings the right competence & experience to the office.
“In a patriarchal society such as ours, the appointment of a female head of state not only sets the standard for the future but also normalises women as decision-makers in public life,” he added.
The Prime Minister wields the most political power in Ethiopia, with the president’s role restricted to attending ceremonies and functions.
Abiy, since becoming Prime Minister, has championed reforms that have seen women hold important public office positions.
