Sahle-Work Zewde becomes first-ever female President of Ethiopia

Sahle-Work Zewde has been elected the first-ever female President of Ethiopia unanimously by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly on 25 October 2018. She succeeded Mulatu Teshome, who resigned in unclear circumstances. The President of Ethiopia, is largely a ceremonial one, with executive power effectively being exercised by the Prime Minister. Here, Presidents are elected by the House of Peoples’ Representatives for six years, with a two-term limit. Sahle-Work’s appointment makes her Africa’s only serving female head of state, and the first female Ethiopian head of state since Empress Zewditu.