First woman Defense Minister in Ethiopia
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed named the country’s first woman defense minister in her new cabinet. Aisha Mohammed, from the Afar region in the north-east of the country, was the Minister of Construction before being appointed head of the Ministry of Defense.
Prime Minister Abiy has reduced his cabinet from 28 to 20 portfolios, creating for the first time a new Ministry of Peace. His new government team is 50% women. In announcing the changes to the parliament, the prime minister said his reform process must continue to continue to tackle the structural and strategic problems that plunged Ethiopia into chaos. Since taking office in April 2018, Mr. Abiy has introduced a series of reforms that have transformed the country’s political landscape. Another woman, Mufuriat Kami, who has been Speaker of Parliament for the past five months, has been appointed Minister of Peace. She will oversee the country’s intelligence and security apparatus, including the Federal Police Commission.
