Sahle-Work Zewde
President of Ethiopia Sahle-Work Zewde was elected as the fifth President and first woman President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on 25 October 2018. She began her career in the Ministry of Education and later joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1988. She began her long diplomatic carrier as Ambassador to Senegal with accreditation to Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and the Gambia. She served as Ambassador in Djibouti and as Permanent Representative to the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for 10 years.
She was subsequently appointed as Ambassador of Ethiopia to France, Tunisia and Morocco and Permanent Representative to UNESCO. After her return to Ethiopia she was appointed Permanent Representative to the African Union and Director General for African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. President Sahle-Work Zewde joined the United Nations in 2009 and served as Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) thus becoming the first African woman to become an SRSG. In 2011, she was appointed as the first dedicated Director-General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) at the level of Under-Secretary-General. In June 2018, she was appointed by Secretary- General Antonio Guterres as his Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU). She was the first woman to hold these two positions.
TheSeven Facts You Should Know About Africa’s Only Female President Sahle-Work Zewde
Ethiopian senior diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde was approved as the country’s first female president yesterday, October 25, 2018. Her promotion follows the recent and unexpected resignation of Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome. Although her position is mainly ceremonial, it’s a big win for women, for Ethiopia as the third country in Africa, after Rwanda and Seychelles, to achieve gender parity in their cabinets and for Africa as well. Here are six facts about the 68 year old modern day Ethiopian president. 7. She is the 4th president of Ethiopia since the powerful EPRDF coalition came in to power. Her other predecessors include Meles Zenawi (May 1988 – 20 August 2012) ,Hailemariam Desalegn (16 September 2012 – 27 March 2018) 6. President Sahle-Work diplomatic carrier started as early as 1989. She has served as an ambassador for Ethiopia in France, Senegal and Djibouti. She has also held a number of UN positions, including head of peace-building in the Central African Republic (CAR).Immediately before becoming president, Ms Sahle-Work was the UN representative at the African Union. 5.She was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and is the first born of four girls in her family.Her father was a senior officer in the imperial army had bestowed her all the responsibility of succeeding in her education as he strongly believed in educating his children. 4. After finishing her high school education she got a scholarship at the age of seventeen to study natural science at the University of Montpellier in South east of France. 3. She is the second woman in the history of the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry to hold an ambassadorial position following Ambassador Yodit Emiru. 2. Sahle is also Africa’s only female president with the last African female head of state being Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, who resigned in March over an expenses scandal. 1. The newly voted in head of state is married, is a mother of two sons and she is also fluent in Amharic, French and English. Ms Sahle-Work is an experienced diplomat who has now become Africa's only female head of state. Her election to the ceremonial position comes a week after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed a cabinet with half the posts taken up by women. After being sworn in, President Sahle-Work promised to work hard to make gender equality a reality in Ethiopia. • BBC Africa Live: Updates on this and other African stories • Abiy Ahmed: The man changing Ethiopia • Father reunited with long-lost daughters Addressing parliament, she also pledged to promote peace: "I urge you all, to uphold our peace, in the name of a mother, who is the first to suffer from the absence of peace.'' Fighting for women's rights By Bekele Atoma, BBC Afaan Oromoo The new president was keen to make a point about gender equality right from the start, telling MPs that if they thought she was talking too much about women, she had only just begun. There may now be male-female parity in the new cabinet but elsewhere there is still a long way to go. Ms Sahle-Work's appointment has been welcomed by Ethiopians on social media with many calling it "historic". She has been described as Ethiopia's first female head of state of the modern era, with some remembering Empress Zewditu who governed the country in the early part of the 20th Century. Ms Sahle-Work was voted in after the unexpected resignation of her predecessor, Mulatu Teshome. The prime minister's chief of staff, Fitsum Arega, tweeted that "in a patriarchal society such as ours, the appointment of a female head of state not only sets the standard for the future but also normalises women as decision-makers in public life". President Sahle-Work has served as an ambassador for Ethiopia in Senegal and Djibouti. She has also held a number of UN positions, including head of peace-building in the Central African Republic (CAR). Immediately before becoming president, Ms Sahle-Work was the UN representative at the African Union. In the Ethiopian constitution, the post of president is ceremonial with the prime minister holding the political power. The last African female head of state was Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, who resigned in March over an expenses scandal. She denied any wrong doing.
Ethiopian President: ‘There is Nothing that a Woman or a Girl Cannot Do’
This interview originated in VOA's Horn of Africa service. VOA Africa Division's Salem Solomon, Andrea Tadic and French to Africa's Thierry Kaore contributed to the story. Editor’s note: Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde gave an interview to Solomon Abate of the Voice of America’s Horn of Africa service, in New York. She spoke in Amharic and English. These highlights are from their conversation in English and have been edited for brevity and clarity. Sahle-Work Zewde was elected president of Ethiopia by the country’s members of parliament in October 2018. She became the first woman to hold this position in the country’s history. Sahle-Work previously served at the U.N. Special Representative to the African Union and Ethiopian Ambassador to France, Senegal and Djibouti. She also headed the U.N. office in Nairobi. Solomon Abate: Your Excellency Madame President, thank you very much for your time. I would like to start this interview with yourself. Please tell me a little about yourself, about your family...
Sahle-Work Zewde:
I don't know where to start. I grew up in a family of four girls. I'm the firstborn. But I had a very amazing family especially my father, who has always told us that there is nothing that a woman or a girl cannot do. So this has been my motto all my life and in whatever I did, by the way, I was the first woman to do this, the first woman to do that, so I was daring. I was courageous and I had my self-esteem as well. All this has helped. So I started in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs then, no, Ministry of Education, rather, [and] then foreign affairs. I was [an] ambassador of Ethiopia for close to two decades. Too many countries and multilateral as well to the African Union. Then I joined the U.N. as an assistant secretary-general and a special representative of the SG (secretary-general) to the Central African Republic, where my main task was to stabilize the country and work on the peacebuilding for close to eight years. The only United Nations headquarters in the global south which is based in Nairobi as its first dedicated director-general, female or male, that was the first one and the first female of course. Yeah, so with that I'm co-founder Secretary-General. The last posting in the U.N. was to the African Union as a special representative of the SG again to the EU before I joined this office. That's it in a nutshell.
Abate:
And congratulations for becoming the first Ethiopian president your, excellency. And my next question would be on the peace and stability of Ethiopia. There are people who are very much concerned about the future of this country. There are people who predict [the] disintegration of that country. [In the] meantime, there are some optimistic views from the public and from the high officials of the country, including the prime minister of Ethiopia. How do you characterize the current situation in the country?
Sahle-Work:
: First of all, I always see the glass half full. If you don't have that perspective, then it can distort your views. Second, I think we have to think of where we were like two, three years ago. I think we are [on] the right path. I think this is what we should be doing, consolidate. We have a conducive environment. Of course, it can be improved as we move on, but we have the conditions now for everybody to come in and play their role. So if we put the interests of our country first, the interests of our people first, the peace-loving people of Ethiopia because it's the people who have suffered most. So I think we really have to come together to draw a red line not to cross when it comes to peace, because it cannot be used as political expediency. This is too serious of an issue. So, yeah with all this in mind and with the conducive situation in Ethiopia, I think we have a good opportunity to move along.
Abate:
Madame President, the situation of women in Africa is one of the greatest challenges. ... Ethiopia, of course, is not an exception. What do you think governments should do to elevate the ability and the participation of women and what should their contribution be?
Sahle-Work:
: Yeah, I mean, if the history of Africa was written by Africans and by women Africans, I think we would find many unsung heroes. But that's not enough. We know the state of affairs. In Ethiopia, the government has taken a bold decision to bring gender equality and women's empowerment at the heart of what we do. My coming here is a result of that, half of the Cabinet [are women] and so on.
Abate: Yeah, you mentioned that in the general assembly. Sahle-Work: I wanted to test them if they closed their eyes and say, 'Oh, we closed our eyes and we call to the podium the president of...,' they will wake up to say, 'Oh, is it a woman?' Because it's so rare. So, I think we have had two or three female presidents addressing this assembly out of 54. So there is a lot to do, but there is a good prospect in Ethiopia. The job has started, has started in a very big way. It's for all of us now to make sure that the gap is filled that women can grow along the ladder and be selected to any position to have more women in the marketplace. In the job marketplace, [we should] have more women entrepreneurs and so on. There is a huge awareness currently that women should have their place. That they should get their due. So, I think this will help us move forward. But, of course, this will be done also with other countries with similar situations. We have seen some encouraging steps when you look at what has happened in Sudan. We have more females in key positions, so this definitely will have to continue. Abate: And at last, Madame President, let me take you to the regional issues. The Horn of Africa is always volatile and full of tense situations and at this point, including Ethiopia, we see some ups and downs in the area. What should these governments do and what role can you play to bring these countries together? And how can you picture the relationship between Egypt and Ethiopia in relation to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Ethiopia is building now? Sahle-Work: What is characteristic [of] the current government regarding the region is that it has a bold regional agenda. The government has understood that the progress of Ethiopia could be limited if the Horn region doesn't come together. So we're working hard, you know, we've been heading [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] IGAD, we're still heading IGAD. We have been at the core of the revitalization of IGAD, which might need another revitalization, but nevertheless this is the vehicle that we have currently. So, I really admire this position that the government has that, as much as we think about national, we also think about regional. Our faith is interrelated in any case. We have supported peace processes and in our neighboring countries. But let me tell you something we have to change the narrative about the Horn. If you look at Africa, we had the Horn, which was in a turmoil two decades ago civil war everywhere. Central Africa, which was also very problematic, and the West was relatively calm and we didn’t know what would come. The storm that was going to come. This has changed and we have seen many countries going into big trouble, crisis, in West Africa. And in the Horn, we had peace accord, and so at leas guns have been silenced and political processes have started. I think we have a very good opportunity now to rise from that. We have suffered for too long that we really need to get back on our two feet and work together. Ethiopia is playing its role in order to be a good regional player. A regional player for the positive side of it, a regional player for fast-tracking integration-free movement of people and so on and so forth. So this is what the government is doing. It’s the only way to do it if we want to progress and progress fast. On Egypt, we have a good relationship with Egypt. I can't say otherwise. But the issue of the Nile is to have an equitable and sustainable share and there is a framework, a legal framework for that. So we want those who are not in the fold to come into the fold and agree that this is the way we should be doing things. The prime minister, one of his first trips was to Cairo, to reassure our neighbor. So we are optimistic. The discussion has to continue. Abate: Do you think the Egyptians trust the prime minister? Sahle-Work: Well, I don't know why it shouldn't be, why it should be otherwise. But, the principle is not to harm anyone in any case. So, we can't go against it. In any case, this is where we are and we really would like to create a conducive environment for the technical people to work on it and to [provide] evidence-based results so that the politicians decide.
A 'Feminist' Ethiopia? What’s Really Behind the Country’s Recent Reforms?
Introduction
Under the new leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia embarked on an ambitious reform process. This resulted in the historic peace accord with Eritrea, for which Abiy Ahmed was named the 100th winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2019. The reform process further led to an internal creation of a ministerial position for peace, a cabinet with 50 percent of women ministers, and the first woman head of state - Sahle-Work Zewde - in the country’s modern history. It also led to the appointment of the chairperson of the National Election Board, Birtukan Mideksa, who was the founder and leader of an opposition party and has been living in exile, and the appointment of the women’s rights champion Meaza Ashenafi as the country’s Supreme Court president, amidst many other gains. More recently, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also initiated a tree planting campaign to combat deforestation and climate change and set a new world record by planting 350 million trees in a single day. These monumental reforms initiated by the new administration were triggered by various factors in the Ethiopian political discourse, including a rising awareness of human and economic rights, a change in mindset in resisting oppression, demanding political and civil rights, and reclaiming equitable sharing of resources with the desire to end ethnic domination. It was also driven by online and offline Qeerroo political organising and interconnectedness brought by the digital age, political will, the global-consciousness created by the #MeToo movement to bring about feminist ideological transformation, and the Ethiopian youth movement pushing for change supported by diaspora communities wide and far. In a country where state-sponsored violence wreaks havoc, by adopting not only a pan-Africanist foreign policy but a universalist one, the new administration brings hope to Ethiopia. However, there are still significant challenges to overcome. In this article, I seek to contextualise the various reforms brought about by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which focus on women and assert his administration’s commitment to destabilise patriarchy. It will highlight both internal and external factors that propelled the country’s recent ‘feminist decisions’, discussing whether these reforms are enough, and the different challenges ahead. I argue that, in times where backlash against civil society organisations and women’s rights persists, national borders are being closed, international treaties are being denounced, and international cooperation is being replaced with domination and armament, the current Ethiopian government went out of its usual way to open up space for opposition and civil society engagement, to reach out to former enemies, and ensure women’s and feminist perspectives are considered in forging domestic and foreign policy. Moreover, Ethiopia’s policy directions have already had a positive impact on the wider region.
Democratic Space for Women?
Patriarchy’s link to structural powerlessness of women in Ethiopia can be dissected through the narrative that in our society leadership has been the birth right of men for centuries. So, while democracy is defined as a structure of decision making where power is exercised by the people, because our default definition of people is ‘men’, democracy can be understood as ‘the rule of men’. The deliberate positioning of women ‘in the kitchen’ unpaid, with the responsibilities of rearing children and tending for their husbands, was/is the norm, and anything that disrupts this was and is still considered a social anomaly. Traditionally, hegemonic gender identities dismiss the contribution women have made to public life in Ethiopia by placing women in the private space of the home; despite this, women have participated in public life in several ways. The work of various women at different times have influenced the new developments that the country witnessed recently, although their work is often invisible or altogether erased. These include the Ethiopian Student movement, the non-hierarchical non-gendered commune Awramba, Girls’ Forum, and the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA). More recently, feminist organisations and initiatives have also brought about a change in mindset induced by advocacy work promoting a cultural shift. Recent examples include Setaweet, the university-led Yellow Movement, YEGNA, the UN’s annual Sixteen Days of Activism, and other women and girls empowerment initiatives by local and international organisations. Today, for most actors in a position of power, the women’s issue is considered an afterthought, a perfunctory attempt to appease international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), or shot at geo-political gains, seeking Western cooperation. Yet, if the aim of these aforementioned initiatives is the mere joining of exclusive clubs, becoming gatekeepers of patriarchy and state repression, and an alibi for NGO dependency syndrome, opposed to focusing on how women can continue to thrive in Ethiopia, little progress will be made. However, it cannot be ignored that the return to democratic politics through recent reforms has facilitated the creation of new spaces for civil society engagement, enabling work to foster women’s rights and activists to take advantage of the right to organise, lobby, and act. Progressive reformers were the architects of formulating a sweeping gender policy in a country gagged by lawlessness, a track record of gender antagonism, and dispossession. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is injecting hope for plural politics and multiculturalism by prioritising the women’s issue and ensuring a record high of 50 percent women ministerial representation. As the Ethiopian political ecosystem evolves, not only the ceremonial presidential position will be filled by a woman but also the more powerful position of head of government. The high-ranking women appointees bring their lived experiences to the various positions that are unique to women with an unparalleled level of excellence and competency.
How Much Feminist Disruption is Accepted?
With these new reforms, women are now in the room, but are they ‘allowed to’ make noise? How loud are their voices in amplifying the concerns of everyday women of Ethiopia? The potential downside of being the Prime Minister’s troop is not fully owning the space for feminist leadership. How much feminist disruption is tolerated by the Prime Minister and those others in power? There is no doubt that these women who are now situated in powerful positions are inspiring the next generation of women leaders, and the terrain has changed for the better: young girls can now aspire to be more than housewives. They have new visible role models in the women in positions of power, for example the trailblazing Ethiopian president and arguably the most powerful women in Africa, Sahel-Work Zewde, the first Ethiopian Women Federal Supreme Court President Meaza Ashenafi, or the first woman former Defence Minister, Aisha Mohamed who hails from Afar region (a region in the northern part of Ethiopia and historically excluded from mainstream politics), or the former speaker of parliament who holds a key position as the country’s first-ever Minister of Peace. The big question is: How are these women building movements and acting on their collective responsibility beyond personal ladder climbing? Now that they are in power, how are they empowering others? How much systemic change does this bring about? What does their ascension to power mean for the woman on the street? The prolific author Toni Morrison taught us that “the function of freedom is to free someone else”. The fight is not to sit at the same table with men and serve patriarchists nor satisfy the male gaze – the end goal is to end patriarchy indefinitely. We demand more safety; we want to be unburdened. We demand justice for women who told their stories to the African Union Commission about sexual harassment at the workplace. We demand a safe home, school, street, workplace, place of worship, nightclub, and country. We demand feminist-coalition building with those engaged in similar social justice projects. As the social condition of women changes, the knowledge and practical engagement to resist and push for transformation must also change.
Peace With Eritrea and New Partnerships
In response to the normalisation of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the relationship between Eritrea and Djibouti has also improved, leading to Eritrea’s re-admission to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), unlocking the potential for articulating a peaceful foreign policy. Ethiopia’s active peace-making role in the region is emphasised by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s role in mediating power skirmishes in Sudan. Pacifism and feminism go hand in hand. Seeking peace in foreign policy and geopolitical relations is seeking the wellbeing of women whose bodies are often the battlefield for war-mongering men. Ironically, the Prime Minister has close allies for bilateral investment with the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, which is another attempt to mitigate fundamental economic problems by being in bed with totalitarians and monarchs and cannot be considered a feminist partnership at all. For instance, on 15 July 2019, the “Prime Minister Abiy presided over [the] signing of a $100mil grant MOU b/n FDRE Minister of Finance & UAE Government” according to the Office of the Prime Minister’s Twitter page. This was a clear signal that the new administration is seeking to form new global partnerships and address investment opportunities beyond those offered by China. The new administration is cognisant of the fact that the way forward to sustaining peaceful coexistence is social justice, equity, political open-mindedness, and economic cooperation. However, their regional mediation has been viewed suspiciously by Ethiopians who say, Abiy Ahmed is “stirring somebody else’s pot while his own is burning”, with specific reference to addressing the issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within Ethiopia, which is in need of a feminist leadership response.
The Challenges Ahead
Ethiopia suffers from cultural determinism. As a ‘culturally sensitive’ patriarchal society it hasn’t escaped the common misconception that feminism is all about ‘always angry, man-hating, bra-burning, hypersexual lesbians, who are an enemy to the fabric of the traditional African society and funded by the west’. A caricature of feminism in the reaction to a specific horrific incident – an almost pseudo concern for women while sustaining the social order of the time. The original high-spirited welcome, embrace, and joy following the appointment of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed by the public is now replaced by resentment, rage, concerns about state fragility, and accusations that the Prime Minister is not “man enough” to maintain law and order in the nation and act with urgency. The gap between the initial hope and joy, and the current resentment and uncertainty is widening daily. The challenges are immense: the re-emergence of an ethnocratic state, ethnic rivalries with a secessionist tone, and new dynamics of ethnic nationalism fuelled by male chauvinism challenging the federal autonomy, exponential cyber-bullying fuelling ethnic tensions, social media raving with hate speech, harbouring trolls spewing violent rhetoric and hatred, the closing-up of digital space for ethnic minorities with little human capital, and women targeted daily by misogyny. Additionally, hegemonic aspiration of the ethnocratic Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which historically has been dominating the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which in turn is now chaired by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed from the Oromo Democratic Front, pose serious challenges for the government and the society as a whole. Old habits die hard and the TPLF is struggling to accept the loss of power Abiy Ahmed’s election has meant to them. They are desperate to consume its stolen leftovers. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, while working to reinvent himself, has given enough room for his colleagues to embark on a self-reflecting journey, but his visionary ways are misinterpreted by those who are crippled by their fragile masculinity. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed exhibits all of the qualities of an honourable change-maker, diversifying his approach for reconstructing the nation, but with no solidarity from the hardliners, he is seen as a traitor who is mistrusted, met with rebellion, treachery, and inexcusable, deceitful, and unlawful activities. The recent ‘coup’ attempt (June 2019), the assassination attempt on him are all actions aimed at wounding his ego by those who see his transformative efforts characterised by diminished masculinity. Today, widespread sexualised violence against women still persists in Ethiopia. Rape culture, mostly unreported, is the norm, and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), child marriage (rape), sexual harassment, and the gender pay gap are all areas that new gender parity at the state level hasn’t yet addressed. Shoving things under the rug when the going gets tough and excluding feminist activism or giving activists a bad rap is counterproductive. It must be noted that the public perception in today’s Ethiopia towards activists is concerning, activism just like feminism has become a taboo word, and it is disheartening that the animosity arises from those who have no understanding whatsoever of both its theoretical and practical notion. More evident challenges are also present in the desperate need for change and improvements in infrastructure for water and electricity supply, public transportation, bureaucracy, food provision, police brutality, and tackling widespread poverty. The regime is currently trying to fix such issues with neo-liberal leanings, diametrically opposite and a clear departure from the developmental state model the EPRDF had been reciting ever since its inception. Regardless, these are all inequalities that need addressing immediately.
It is a Long Road to Go
Social visionaries, innovators, artists, politicians and feminists alike are all reimagining and building a nation by mending a scrambled republic by ethnic, gender, class, religion, economic and political exclusion, material deprivation and social dispossession. However, Ethiopians still need significant conversations on collective healing, to be deeply united in our desire for a common vision for a peaceful, just, and prosperous country. Ethiopians at home and abroad need to partner with the new administration to alleviate the complex strategic policy deficit with trackable trends that are accountable, progressive, transparent, and measurable. To fully fathom the impending changes and one’s culpability in the system, it is important to ask whether the sins of the EPRDF can be washed away by an individual? Can the amicable repentance of one man overcome the many challenges that have grown over decades? Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is yet to legitimise his hold on power by campaigning for a free and fair election. One way of redressing the feminist question will be when the constitution ratifies gender equality at all layers of decision making. In the forthcoming election, how many women candidates are there? How many of those women and men come with the political commitment for feminist change? How safe will Ethiopia be for women to live a full and dignified life? While the administration may be tirelessly working to tidy up the region, some spectators argue our own house may not be in order and there is a desperate need for a roadmap for change. But, are people looking for a roadmap or a change in direction? Some claim the time for federalist governance is over, but really, the question should be: Can federalist governments promote and ensure equity and diversity?
Conclusion: The Remaking of Ethiopia Cannot Be a One-Man Show
Nevertheless, if Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is hoarding power for building a preacher-like public persona to arm him in a popularity contest (populism), all of the positive gains will die a slow death, exacerbating the many challenges the nation faces. The remaking of Ethiopia cannot be a one-man show. It must be reiterated: If the ruling party assumes that the need for a feminist leadership and gender equality is done and dusted, the opposition will come from those they are grooming. Society has taught us that hyper-masculinity and strong leadership go hand in hand, but this is a myth. For a country that has been in an abusive and imposed relationship with the venomous masculinity of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (1955 – 2012) and his apologists, Ethiopia may still be lamenting and suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Is the country fully prepared for a healthy relationship with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his administration? He wants Ethiopians to heal together, but for a country afflicted by a dysfunctional co-dependency on chauvinist leadership, recovery will take time and a willingness to submerge in an active holistic desire for a reimagination of justice for all. This period may be a time of consolidating peaceful coexistence both domestically and regionally, but there must be more internal conversations and dialogue amongst Ethiopians themselves, a sort of intentional getting to know each other based on inclusion and justice. A culture shift and a feminist blueprint and discourse for the emancipation of the country and its imagination must be asserted. Those close and far must also use this blueprint for the project of getting their houses in order. The Prime Minister’s administration may be on point in terms of crafting populism, but the work ahead in terms of strategic institutional restructuring and democratic reform with a commitment to women’s representation in power has only begun. I believe that feminists will eventually occupy the space opened up by the Prime Minister if misogynists cannot work through their differences and display the moral courage to dismantle repression and create a just, fair world for all. Setting the tone for the proliferation of the feminist agenda is a wakeup call for a world inflicted with chronic pessimism. The Prime Minister is adamant on creating synergies amongst various groups in Ethiopia and beyond, but unification without justice is a recipe for disaster and at best remains a pipe dream. One of the greatest achievements of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s leadership style aside from his gender policy reform is the way he has been able to deconstruct masculinity, being a man that cries publicly and preaches love and peace in a world where seeking peace is often viewed as softness or weakness, and where aggression is seen as strength. Having always been very close with his mother may have influenced his progressive thinking, which values acts towards forgiveness and reconciliation, promoting justice, fairness, and a new type of masculinity that shocks most Ethiopians in a context where violence is usually seen as a virtue of a leader, and where power is understood by exerting force and terror. Challenging dominant gender roles and power relations are lessons that must be learned not only by those in power in Africa but the world. Above all else, the Prime Minister’s decisions and reforms differ drastically from those in power across the world – especially in his recent efforts to tackle climate change by planting millions of trees in one day, which shows he understands the intersections of climate change and how it affects people of the periphery. For a radical feminist like myself, Abiy Ahmed and his administration may not be doing enough yet, but he has already made immeasurable changes in a country that was on the brink of demise and democratic collapse. He may even be deemed as “the messiah” and it might not be long before we see a movement called ‘Abiyism’.
Sahle-Work Zewde Achievements and how she has transitioned Ethiopia | Women, and leadership
Sahle-Work Zewde is the first female president of Ethiopia. She got her position as a result of the achievements she made over the past years. Having held different positions both in Ethiopia and Africa, she is still a mentor and a role model to young African women who have a passion for changing the continent. Her excellent leadership skills and significant contribution can not only be tied to Ethiopia but also in Africa. Where it started After completing her education in France, she returned to Ethiopia where she served in the ministry of education. During this time majority of women did not attend school. She contributed to the development of education in the country and beyond. She brought, with her, knowledge and skills she got from her nine-year stay in France. She transitioned the education sector in Ethiopia which saw more women join schools. Some women preferred visiting Ethiopia to learn since the education system favored them and other women of Africa. On social ties with other countries, Sahle-Work Zewde worked as an ambassador to many countries within Africa and Europe. Her first assignment as an ambassador was to Senegal then later to Djibouti. She also served as an ambassador to France after which she worked with the United Nations. Her appointed came as a result of her ability to promote good relations with the other countries. In Africa, she also led the exchange program that saw many African women get into leadership. The liberation of the African woman was not an easy task. It needed selfless people who were willing to sacrifice their ambitions and Sahle was such a leader. In every country, she always encouraged women to go to school and learn just like men. She believed in education as a tool that could be used for liberation from the oppression women faced during that time. In leadership, she has shown the best values that can be emulated by most leaders within Ethiopia and Africa. As an ambassador, she contributed towards the exchange of good leadership values between different countries in Africa and Europe. The latest achievement in her leadership is becoming the first female President of Ethiopia. This is a great achievement and an encouragement to other women not only in Ethiopia but also in Africa. Her passion for her continent, excellent leadership skills and dedication to empowered young girls and women have transitioned the way most people used to view women. She has made the women of Ethiopia believe that they can also contribute towards the development of their nation. Sahle-Work Zewde continues to be an inspiration to many people within Africa. Apart from the development she has stirred in education and leadership, she also continues to be a role model for future generations.