By John Ikani
Ethiopia’s legislature has officially appointed a new president, marking the end of Sahle-Work Zewde’s tenure as the nation’s first female head of state.
Taye Astike Selassie, who was foreign minister as of February, will now step into the largely ceremonial role. In Ethiopia, the prime minister—currently Abiy Ahmed—holds the real political influence.
Reports indicate that Sahle-Work’s relationship with Abiy soured over recent years.
Abiy’s endorsement of her appointment in 2018 had been celebrated as a milestone for women’s representation in Ethiopia’s political landscape.
On Saturday, Sahle-Work posted a brief, cryptic message on X, suggesting that her dissatisfaction stemmed from staying quiet over the past year.
Sources close to the 74-year-old disclosed to BBC Amharic that she had been displeased for some time and was looking forward to the end of her term, which was originally set to conclude later this month.
During her time in office, she repeatedly called for peace across the nation. However, it is believed that ongoing violence in the Oromia and Amhara regions left her discontent.
In Amhara, federal forces have been engaged in deadly clashes with local militias, resulting in hundreds of deaths, with accusations of human rights abuses leveled at the security forces.
Taye, 68, a veteran diplomat who has served in positions at the UN and in Egypt, is considered a close ally of Abiy. He took the oath of office before parliament members on Monday.
With Sahle-Work stepping down, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan is now the only female president on the African continent.
