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sandensea

(21,627 posts)
Thu Oct 25, 2018, 02:47 PM Oct 2018

Ethiopia appoints first female president in its modern history in latest reform

Source: Washington Post

Ethiopia’s parliament on Thursday approved the East African country’s first female president, Sahlework Zewde, a veteran of the United Nations and the diplomatic corps.

The position of president is ceremonial in Ethiopia, with executive power vested in the office of the prime minister, but the appointment is deeply symbolic and follows up on last week’s cabinet reshuffle in which made half the ministers are now women in Africa’s second-most populous country.

Parliament accepted the resignation of Mulatu Teshome, who had served as president since 2013.

Under Ethiopia’s young new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in April, there have been a whirlwind of reforms, including releasing political prisoners, inviting back exiles and making peace with the country’s chief opponent, Eritrea, after two decades of hositilities.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ethiopia-appoints-first-female-president-in-its-modern-history-in-latest-reform/ar-BBORWBm





All the Best to Ethiopia's new president, Sahle-Work Zewde.

While Ethipia's presidency is mostly ceremonial, it's a notable milestone in the African nation of 107 million.
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Ethiopia appoints first female president in its modern history in latest reform (Original Post) sandensea Oct 2018 OP
K & R SunSeeker Oct 2018 #1
Congratulations! Equinox Moon Oct 2018 #2
Patriarchal history always calls token women they put forward a "milestone." It's not. ancianita Oct 2018 #3
True. sandensea Oct 2018 #5
When patriarchy produced men of quality not threatened by women in the public zone, ancianita Oct 2018 #7
A powerful statement, and one for the bookmarks sandensea Oct 2018 #10
K&R backtoblue Oct 2018 #4
Lots of good things happening in Ethiopia lately! Glimmer of Hope Oct 2018 #6
Congrats to her BumRushDaShow Oct 2018 #8
Even if power is limited, that is awesome! DorothyG Oct 2018 #9

ancianita

(36,053 posts)
3. Patriarchal history always calls token women they put forward a "milestone." It's not.
Thu Oct 25, 2018, 03:17 PM
Oct 2018

It's more like a wave at the 21st century modernity car that drives by.

sandensea

(21,627 posts)
5. True.
Thu Oct 25, 2018, 03:33 PM
Oct 2018

All the more so because their presidency is largely ceremonial.

Still, it's noteworthy, and hopefully will inspire Ethiopian society to be more egalitarian over time.

My understanding is that, compared to some of their semi-medieval neighbors, they're somewhat more evolved as far as women's rights.



Ethiopian Catering and Tourism Training Institute graudates in 1983. For all its faults, women's rights made notable progress during the 1974-91 Marxist regime.



ancianita

(36,053 posts)
7. When patriarchy produced men of quality not threatened by women in the public zone,
Thu Oct 25, 2018, 05:29 PM
Oct 2018

and their goals were to stay on good terms with the West, these things happened then.

But, as male cycles trend toward purity testing, women are the first casualties; they, for their daughters' safety, turn back toward conservative gender submissions so that future women can survive.

No modernity is freely chosen but extracted by other countries; usually, through some trade agreements. One step forward, two steps back. That's what this is.

Long run -- I'm cynical, bitter, hopeless, because the war against women is always prey/predator oriented, always red tooth and claw vicious no matter the wealth of the woman.

It's the evolutionary law that adaptation trumps domination. It's the long game.

Short run -- I'm glad you posted this, though. Any news bolsters hope.

BumRushDaShow

(128,905 posts)
8. Congrats to her
Thu Oct 25, 2018, 05:54 PM
Oct 2018

But didn't realize this part -

Africa’s second-most populous country


I know Nigeria has the largest population of any country on the continent but didn't realize Ethiopia came in 2nd!
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