The Ethiopian parliament has elected its first female president, in a move that has set a new standard for women in East Africa. Sahle-Work Zewde has replaced Mulatu Teshome who resigned from his presidency on Wednesday.
Zewde has previously served as an under-secretary-general, as the United Nations’ special representative to Ethiopia. According to reports, she also held top positions as an Ethiopian representative in France and Djibouti. She has also worked in peacekeeping operations in Africa. She reportedly accepted this position on the heels on the unprecedented appointment of women to hold leadership positions in the Defence Ministry, now known as the ‘Ministry of Peace’.
Fitsum Arega, the prime minister’s chief of staff and de facto government spokesman tweeted, “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 normalizes women as decision-makers in public life.”
After she took her oath of office, Zewde reportedly emphasized the importance of respecting women and the need to build a “society that rejects the oppression of women.” She also promised to work for peace and unity in the country. She added that those who think she has already talked too much about women should expect even more.
Selam Musse, a gender and media consultant based in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa says that Zewde’s new role carries ‘significant symbolic weight’, adding that having a female leader “speaks volumes for women and knocks on every door, especially in a country where patriarchy plays a decisive role in political, social and economic structure of our country’s politics.”
The country’s cabinet underwent a major reshuffle, and introduced some radical political reforms by Abiy Ahmed, the youngest African leader at age 41. Last week, Abiy last week cut the country’s ministerial roster to 20 and handed half the positions to women. He has freed many jailed journalists, bloggers and political prisoners arrested by previous administrations.
