Ethiopian Foreign Minister Elected President of the Country
Taye Atske Selassie, new Ethiopian president
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie has been elected president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia by parliament, succeeding Sahle-Work Zewde. Zewde, the country’s first female president, will serve a term that ends in October. Although the office of president is largely ceremonial in Ethiopia, where executive power is largely held by the prime minister, the election marks a symbolic change at the helm of state.
The Honorary Role of the President in Ethiopia
In the Ethiopian political system, the Constitution adopted in 1995 stipulates that the president is the head of state, but most of the prerogatives are vested in the Prime Minister. Thus, Taye Atske Selassie becomes the fifth president of the country since the establishment of this Constitution. He took the oath of office in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and received the Constitution from Sahle-Work Zewde during an official ceremony.
A remarkable diplomatic career
Before being elected president, Taye Atske Selassie, 68, held several high-level diplomatic posts. He has served as Ethiopia’s permanent representative to the United Nations since 2018, after serving as ambassador to Egypt in 2017–18. In February 2024, he was appointed foreign minister, a position that arguably enhanced his stature on the national and international stage.
Political context and challenges of the country
The election of Taye Atske Selassie comes at a delicate time for Ethiopia, a country that has gone through periods of internal and external tensions. After the historic rapprochement with Eritrea, initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the country was plunged into an armed conflict between federal forces and Tigray rebels for two years. Despite these difficulties, the Ethiopian government continues to warn against any threat to its sovereignty.
Conclusion
The election of Taye Atske Selassie as President of Ethiopia, while symbolic, comes at a crucial time for the country. With his diplomatic experience, he takes office in a political and social context marked by significant challenges, both domestically and internationally. His presidency, under the shadow of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, could play a role in representing the country on the international stage, while maintaining a political balance within the government.
