Ethiopia’s parliament has approved the appointment of a new president to replace the country’s first female head of state, Sahle-Work Zewde.
Taye Astike Selassie, foreign minister since February, has taken on the largely ceremonial role. In Ethiopia, political power lies with the prime minister – currently Abiy Ahmed.
Sahle-Work had reportedly fallen out with the Prime Minister in recent years.
Abiy’s support for her first appointment in 2018 was hailed as a breakthrough for women’s equality in Ethiopian politics.
On Saturday, Sahle-Work posted a short and somewhat cryptic message on
Sources close to the 74-year-old told BBC Amharic that she had been unhappy for some time and was eagerly awaiting the end of her term, which would end later this month.
During her presidency, she made several calls for peace across the country. But it is believed that she was dissatisfied with the current conflicts in the Oromia and Amhara regions.
In Amhara, federal forces have battled a local militia, leading to hundreds of deaths and security forces accused of committing crimes against humanity.
President Taye, 68, a veteran diplomat who has served at the UN and in Egypt, is considered close to Abiy. He was sworn in on Monday in the presence of parliamentarians.
Sahle-Work’s replacement means that Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is currently Africa’s only female head of state.
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