Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has formed a new cabinet in which women account for 39% of the members, following his reappointment as prime minister earlier this week.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives approved the new cabinet after Abiy presented his ministerial nominees to Parliament.
The 23-member cabinet includes nine women and 22 federal ministers, in addition to Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh. The government said the appointments were made after assessing the nominees’ qualifications, professional experience and capacity to implement the government’s agenda.�
Several senior ministers have retained their portfolios, including the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Education, Revenue, Water and Energy, Health, Justice and Agriculture.
Among the new appointments is Frehiwot Tamiru, the former chief executive officer of Ethio Telecom, who has been appointed minister of Innovation and Technology.
The new cabinet is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh and includes Gedion Timothewos as minister of Foreign Affairs, Addisu Arega as minister of Agriculture, Fitsum Assefa as minister of Finance and Mohammed Idris as minister of Defense.
Professor Berhanu Nega will continue as minister of Education, while Hana Arayaselassie has been appointed minister of Justice. Yasmin Wohabrebbi will serve as minister of Trade and Regional Integration, and Fisseha Yitagesu as minister of Industry.
Other members of the new cabinet include Habtamu Itefa, minister of Water and Energy; Dr Mekdes Daba, minister of Health; Awelu Abdi, minister of Labor and Skills; Aynalem Niguse, minister of Revenues; Bereket Fissehatsion, minister of National Strategy; Selamawit Kassa, minister of Culture and Tourism; Alemtsahay Paulos, minister of Mining; Sadat Nesha, minister of Logistics; Shewit Shanka, minister of Women and Social Affairs; and Musa Adem, minister of Peace.
The cabinet also includes Mohammed Abdurahman as minister of Urban and Infrastructure Development, Sultan Weli as minister of Irrigation and Lowlands, and Aklilu Tadesse as minister of Youth and Sports.
The formation of the new cabinet comes as Abiy begins another term as prime minister. His administration is expected to focus on the government’s economic, development and institutional reform agenda.