Sahle-Work Zewde Makes History As Ethiopia's First Female President

Sahle-Work Zewde has been elected as the president of Ethiopia. After the resignation of Mauritius’ President, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, it seemed our beautiful African continent had a slim chance of having another female president. Thankfully 68-year-old, Sahle-Work Zewde has crushed the status quo.

President Sahle-Work Zewde who replaces Mulatu Teshome is a diplomat. She has served as both the special representative of the United Nations’ secretary-general and the head of the UN office to the African Union. She was head of the UN office to Kenya and also acted as Ethiopia’s ambassador to several countries including Senegal, France and Djibouti.

The Ethiopian laws are a little different from others. Sahle-Work will serve under young and new Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed. Apparently, the prime minister occupies the highest seat of power. The president’s responsibilities include; opening parliament, appointing ambassadors following the prime minister’s recommendation, among a host of others.

Sahle-Work Zewde promises to fight for women’s right. According to the BBC, the new president was keen to make a point about gender equality right from the start, telling MPs that if they thought she was talking too much about women, she had only just begun.