President Uhuru Kenyatta has joined other renowned world leaders in congratulating Ethiopia and it’s newly elected Presient Sahle-Work Zewde for the bold and historic political move that the county took last month.
Sahle, was elected in a unanimous vote by Ethiopian lawmakers to replace Mulatu Teshome who resigned.
Sahle-Work, who is in her late 60s, 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.
As president she is expected to serve two six-year terms.
Political power in Ethiopia is wielded by the prime minister with the president’s role is restricted to attending ceremonies and functions.
“The people of Ethiopia have made a historic political step by electing their first female President. It was a pleasure to hold talks with President @SahleWorkZewde, at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa,” said Uhuru Kenyatta.
The people of Ethiopia have made a historic political step by electing their first female President. It was a pleasure to hold talks with President @SahleWorkZewde, at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa. pic.twitter.com/dizLmoJh46
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) November 17, 2018
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed went to history by unveiling a downsized cabinet where, in a first, half the members are women, a top official said.
Women occupy key positions in the 20-member cabinet that includes a newly created Ministry of Peace to oversee the federal police and intelligence agencies.
The new Minister of National Defence, Aisha Mohammed, is the first woman to hold the post. Minister of Peace Muferiat Kamil is the former speaker of parliament.
The previous cabinet had 28 ministers, of which only five were women.
The shakeup was the latest in a series of dramatic reforms implemented by Abiy since he took office in April after more than two years of anti-government unrest that contributed to his predecessor’s sudden resignation.
Do you think Kenya can follow Ethiopia’s example and elect a Female as President?