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Ethiopia lawmakers vote Taye new President, as Sahle-Work steps down
Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde resigned from her position on Monday, ending weeks of speculation about her leadership.
The Federal House of People’s Representatives elected Taye Atske Selassie, a former United Nations envoy who was appointed foreign minister earlier this year, as the new president.
Lawmakers unexpectedly approved Taye’s appointment in a vote on Monday, shortly after Sahle-Work expressed her dissatisfaction over several issues in a post on X over the weekend. Following the vote, the former president handed over the country’s constitution to Taye and exited the parliament building without delivering a statement.
With Sahle-Work’s resignation, Tanzania is now the only African nation led by a female head of state.
In Ethiopia, the presidency is largely a ceremonial role, with most executive power resting in the hands of the prime minister.