Sahle-Work Zewde Becomes Ethiopia’s 1st Female President!

Sahle-Work Zewde Becomes Ethiopia’s First Female President

Ethiopia is making historic strides in 2018. 68-year-old Sahle-Work Zewde has been appointed Ethiopia’s new president, making her the first female president in Ethiopian history.

In June, Zewde was appointed as a special representative to the African Union and head of the U.N. Office to the African Union. She was also the first woman to hold that role. The 69-year-old also held top diplomatic roles representing Ethiopia in both Djibouti and France. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s top aide, Fitsum Arega, made the official announcement on Twitter,

In a historic move, the two Houses have elected Ambassador Shalework Zewde as the next President of #Ethiopia. She is the first female head of state in modern Ethiopia. A career diplomat & senior official at the UN, she brings the right competence & experience to the office. 

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. #Ethiopia

Congrats to Ethiopia on making history!