Ethiopia's House of Peoples' Representatives on 8 October unanimously approved Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's new cabinet, in which Fitsum Assefa moves from planning to become finance minister.
Fitsum, who led the Ministry of Planning and Development for eight years, replaces Ahmed Shide, who was elected Speaker of the House when the new parliamentary term opened on 5 October, The Reporter and Reuters reported. Reuters noted that Ethiopia is reworking its external debt under the G20's Common Framework.
The state-aligned Fana Media Corporation described a 23-member cabinet: 22 ministers and Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, who keeps his post. Women hold nine of the 22 ministries, about 41%, according to Fana and The Reporter.
Several ministers stay on, among them Gedion Timothewos at Foreign Affairs, Birhanu Nega at Education and Addisu Arega at Agriculture. Mohammed Idris moves from the peace ministry to become defence minister, The Reporter said.
Newcomers include Frehiwot Tamiru, the former chief executive of Ethio Telecom, as Minister of Innovation and Technology, and Musa Adem, chairman of the Afar People's Party, as Minister of Peace. Fana said Mohammed Abdurahman, the new Minister of Urban and Infrastructure, is the first minister from Harari Region to join the federal cabinet.
Musa and Birhanu, who is associated with the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA), come from parties that contested the 1 June general election, Fana reported. The planning ministry has been renamed the Ministry of National Strategy and will be led by its former state minister, Bereket Fissehatsion, according to The Reporter.
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Abiy told lawmakers the nominees were chosen for their education, professional experience and capacity to deliver, as well as their commitment to fighting corruption, CGTN reported. He urged them to protect the national interests of more than 54 million citizens who voted in June.
"This isn't the most ideal nomination," Abiy said in reply to questions from members, according to CGTN. "This is the best we could come up with based on the agreed criteria."
Outside the cabinet vote, Abiy named Adem Farah Coordinator for Democratic System Building with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, and Ambassador Betre Mengistu Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mereja reported, citing Fana.
Abiy was re-elected and sworn in for another five-year term when the seventh parliamentary term opened on 5 October, Fana reported.
