Press Release - Thursday 13th October 2005
Ethiopia's new Cabinet announced
PRESS RELEASE
Ethiopia’s New Cabinet Announced
Ethiopia’s Parliament opened on Monday 10th October. The third five-year term of the newly elected parliament was officially opened, with both chambers - the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of the Federation - meeting in a joint session in the morning, before holding their first regular sessions as separate assemblies in the afternoon. The House of Peoples’ Representatives includes 116 women MPs out of a total of 547.
In his televised speech addressing the joint meeting and the nation, Ethiopian President Girma Wolde Giorgis hailed the third democratic national federal and regional parliamentary elections and called for “redoubled efforts to sustain and augment the ongoing development successes”, in particularly the unprecedented levels of annual average economic growth attained over the past two years. Finally, in wishing both houses of parliament “fruitful tenure”, the President assured them of the “full support of the nation in their endeavours to realise their future programmes for peace, development and democracy.”
The House of Peoples Representatives then began the task of electing a new Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Parliamentarians endorsed H.E. Meles Zenawi as Prime Minister with a show of hands, after which he took an oath of office during the formal inaugural ceremony. The House then went on to elect Ambassador Teshome Toga, the former Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, as the new Speaker and Shitaye Minale as Deputy Speaker, marking the first time the post has been held by a woman.
Meanwhile, the inaugural session of the House of Federation, also held elections for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, with Degife Bula and Mohammed Siree elected respectively. The House endorsed the Ethiopian Premier’s proposed new Cabinet on Tuesday 11th October. The new Cabinet list is attached, as is a list of the new State Ministers.
ENDS
Ethiopian Embassy
17 Princes Gate
London SW7 1PZ
For further information contact the press office on 020 7838 3880.
For more news about Ethiopia, please visit our website at www.ethioembassy.org.uk
The new Cabinet has been announced as follows:
Prime Minister
H.E. Meles Zenawi
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Mr Addisu Legesse
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr Seyoum Mesfin
Minister Finance and Economic Development
Mr Sufian Ahmed
Minister of Health
Dr.Tewodros Adhanom (m)
Minister of Education
Dr. Sintayehu Woldemikael (m)
Minister of Trade and Industry
Mr Girma Biru
Minister of Defense
Mr Kuma Demekesa
Minister of Information
Mr Berhan Hailu
Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
Mr Hassen Abdella
Minister of Capacity Building
Mr Tefera Walwa
Minister of Justice
Mr Assefa Keseto
Minister of Transport and Communications
Mr Junedi Sado
Minister of Federal Affairs
Mr Siraj Fegeta
Minister of Works and Urban Development
Dr. Kasu Ilala (m)
Minister Mines and Energy
Mr Alemayehu Tegenu
Minister of Revenue
Mr Melaku Fenta
Minister of Water Resources
Mr Asefaw Dingam
Minister of Women’s Affairs
Ms Hirut Dilebo
Minister of Youth and Sports
Ms Aster Mamo
Minister of Culture and Tourism
Mr Mahmud Dirir
The new State Ministers have also been announced as follows:
State Ministers of Capacity Building
Mr Fikru Desalegn
Mr Belete Negeeso
State Ministers of Education
Dr. Adhana Haile (m)
Mr Wondewosen Kiflu
Mr Fuad Ibrahim
State Ministers of Trade and Industry
Mr Tadesse Haile
Mr Mohammed Tussa
State Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development
Dr. Abera Deressa
Mr Ahmed Nasir
Mr Yacob Yana
State Minister of Transport and Communications
Mr Getachew Mengiste
State Minister of Works and Urban Development
Mr Arkeb Equbay
State Ministers of Finance and Economic Development
MrMekonnen Manyazewal
Ambassdor Brehanu Kebede
Mr Mamo Getu
State Minister of Revenue
Mr Tezera Wodadjo
State Minister of Federal Affairs
Mr Maeregu Hailemariam
State Minister of Health
Dr. Kebede Worku (MD)
State Ministers of Justice
Dr. Hashim Tofik (m)
Ms Simegn Wubie
State Ministers of Defense
General Haile Tilahun (m)
Sultan Mohammed
Mr Kasahun Dendir
State Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Dr. Tekeda Alemu (m)
Mr Nega Tsegaye
State Minister of Information
Mr Tesema Fotee
State Minister of Water Resources
Mr Adugna Jebessa
State Minister of Youth and Sports
Mr Abdissa Yadeta
State Minister of Women’s Affairs
Ms Uboh Mohammed Hussein
State Ministers of Culture and Tourism
Ms Tadelech Dalecha
Mr Mohamed Ge’as
State Minister of Mines and Energy
Ms Sinkenesh Ijigu
State Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs
Ms Zenebu Tadesse
Mr Mohammed Maadin Ali
Speakers of the House of Representatives
Speakers of the House of Federation
(m) = male
ENDS