Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives approves new cabinet members

The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) of Ethiopia has approved new cabinet members proposed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, PhD.

ADDIS ABABA–The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) of Ethiopia has unanimously approved the appointment of the new cabinet members proposed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The newly formed cabinet downsized the number of ministerial positions to twenty (20) from the previous number, twenty eight (28).

For the first time in Ethiopian history, women compose 50% of the cabinet. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed kept his promises to bring more women to higher offices of the country by assigning significant number of women to run key ministerial portfolios including ministries of Peace, Trade and Industry, and Defense.

While it was prioritized bringing women to higher platform, these appointments were done within the consideration of the individual’s competence and educational background, according to the Prime Minister.

From this restructuring of the ministries, it was learnt that the former Ministry of Public Service and Human Resources is changed to Civil Service Commission. Further, three new commissions were formed, namely (1) Job Creation Commission, (2) Environment, Forestry and Climate Change Commission, and (3) Plan and Development Commission.

List of the newly appointed cabinet members & those remain at their previous positions:

  1. Mrs. Adanech Abebe ― Minister of Revenue
  2. Mr. Ahmed Shide ― Minister of Finance
  3. Eng. Aisha Mohammed Mussa ― Minister of Defense
  4. Dr. Amir Aman Hagos ― Minister of Health
  5. Mr. Berhanu Tsegaye ― Attorney General
  6. Mrs. Dagmawit Moges ― Minister of Transport
  7. Dr. Ergoge Tesfaye ― Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
  8. Mr. Fetlework Gebre-Egziabher ― Minister of Trade and Industry
  9. Dr. Fitsum Assefa ― Planning and Development Commission Commissioner
  10. Dr. Eng. Getahun Mekuria ― Minister of Innovation and Technology
  11. Dr. Hirut Kassaw ― Minister of Culture and Tourism
  12. Dr. Hirut Woldemariam Teketel ― Minister of Science and Higher Education
  13. Mr. Jantrar Abaye ― Minister of Urban Development and Construction
  14. Mrs. Muferiat Kamil ― Minister of Peace
  15. Mr. Oumer Hussen ― Minister of Agriculture
  16. Dr. Samuel Horka ― Minister of Mines and Petroleum
  17. Dr. Sileshi Bekele ― Minister of Water Irrigation and Electricity
  18. Dr. Tilaye Gete Ambaye ― Minister of Education
  19. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu ― Minister of Foreign Affairs
  20. Mrs. Yalem-Tsegay Asfaw ― Minister of Women, Children and Youth

Sources: EthiopiaOnline and FBC