Ethiopia appoints first female president in its modern history in latest reform
Source: Washington Post
Ethiopias parliament on Thursday approved the East African countrys 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 weeks cabinet reshuffle in which made half the ministers are now women in Africas second-most populous country.
Parliament accepted the resignation of Mulatu Teshome, who had served as president since 2013.
Under Ethiopias 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 countrys 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.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)Equinox Moon
(6,344 posts)ancianita
(36,053 posts)It's more like a wave at the 21st century modernity car that drives by.
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)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.
sandensea
(21,627 posts)Thank you, ancianita.
backtoblue
(11,343 posts)Glimmer of Hope
(5,823 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,905 posts)But didn't realize this part -
I know Nigeria has the largest population of any country on the continent but didn't realize Ethiopia came in 2nd!