Ethiopia has its first woman president: NPR

The Ethiopian parliament has made Sahle-Work Zewde the country's first woman president. And while the role is essentially ceremonial, his appointment carries the power in what it means.

Sahle-Work, an experienced diplomat, is the first woman head of state in modern history of Ethiopia. In June, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Sahle-Work Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the US Office to the African Union, the first woman to hold the position. She was previously Executive Director of the United Nations Office at Nairobi and has held various diplomatic posts, including the Ambassadors of Ethiopia to France and Djibouti.

"A career diplomat and senior UN official, she brings to the office the proper skills and experience," said Fitsum Arega, chief of staff in the Prime Minister's Office, tweeted Thursday. "In a patriarchal society such as ours, the appointment of a woman at the head of the state is not only the norm for the future, but it also normalizes women as decision-makers of the state. public life ".

In Ethiopia, the Prime Minister holds the executive power. According to the Ethiopian Constitution, presidential powers and functions include the appointment of ambassadors, the reception of foreign emissaries and the granting of grace.

The appointment of Sahle-Work comes just a week after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reviewed the cabinet. Abiy, who was appointed in April, reduced cabinet membership from 28 to 28, then appointed women to half of the ministerial roles. Women now hold the two most important cabinet positions: the Minister of Defense and the new Minister of Peace, who oversees intelligence and security forces.

Metasebia Shewaye Yilma, a media entrepreneur and president of the Ethiopian women's business group AWiB, told NPR Thursday that she was "ecstatic" when nominating Sahle-Work, calling it "superb news for all of us, especially for women ".

She said the move was significant in many ways. "One is that women are represented in power," Metasebia said. "As president, we feel we are now 50% represented."

"And the second thing is that it's really going to change the fact that you know that women can not hold positions of political leadership or that they can not bring much – you know, all these different types of stories that now they will be changed. "

With women in power, she says, it will bring new qualities and new leadership styles to the Ethiopian government and inspire the next generation of girls.

Metasebia calls the political changes "a huge step forward" in the multi-generation struggle for gender equality in the country.

"I would say now that it's a little late – in fact, it should have been a long time ago, but the best time is now."

Eyder Peralta, NPR East Africa correspondent, contributed to this report.