Ethiopia’s PM forms his new cabinet, mostly women

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MOGADISHU  — Ethiopia’s Prime Minister has announced Tuesday his new cabinet,  half the ministers are women

The appointment by PM Abiy Ahmed is said to be an unprecedented push for gender parity in Africa’s second-most-populous nation.

The new cabinet, which reduces ministerial positions to 20 from 28, has women in the top security posts for the first time in Ethiopia’s history.

Mr. Abiy Ahmed has marked his nearly seven months in office with a string of staggering reforms for this once-authoritarian country, notably releasing thousands of political prisoners, making peace with its main enemy, Eritrea, and promising to open up the economy.

The newly created Ministry for Peace the portal reports will go to Speaker of the House Muferiat Kamil under whose portfolio will be other federal security agencies.

The chairman of the Somali region ruling party, Ahmed Shide is appointed as Finance Minister.

Workneh Gebeyehu reportedly retains his position as Foreign Minister of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian PM Abiy was elected by the ruling party after years of anti-government protests shook the country.

He immediately embarked on a string of reforms and has promised free and competitive elections in 2020.

The ruling party currently holds all the seats in Parliament.

Ethiopia has faced sweeping political and economic reforms since the 42-year-old prime minister took office in April after months of anti-government protests and made pledges that include free and fair elections.