New Ethiopian president replaces first female head

By Grazia BritishOctober 7, 2024

Ethiopia's parliament has approved the appointment of a new president to replace the country's first female head of state, Sahle-Work Zewde.

Taye Astike Selassie, foreign minister since February, has taken up the largely ceremonial role. In Ethiopia, political power lies with the prime minister - currently Abiy Ahmed.

Sahle-Work had reportedly fallen out with the prime minister in recent years.

Abiy's backing of her initial appointment in 2018 was hailed as a breakthrough for female equality in Ethiopian politics.

On Saturday, Sahle-Work posted a brief and somewhat cryptic message on X, implying she was unhappy as a result of staying silent for the past year.

Sources close to the 74-year-old told BBC Amharic she had been unhappy for some time and was waiting eagerly the end of her term, due later this month.

During her presidency, she made several calls for peace across the country. But it is believed she was unhappy about the current conflicts in Oromia and Amhara regions.

In Amhara, federal forces have been fighting a local militia, which has led to hundreds of deaths and security forces being accused of committing crimes against humanity.

President Taye, 68, an experienced diplomat, having served at the UN and in Egypt, is considered close to Abiy. He was sworn in in front of MPs on Monday.

The replacement of Sahle-Work means that Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan is currently Africa's only female head of state.