Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed 16 cabinet ministers following parliamentary approval from the House of People’s Representatives. The new cabinet which includes the reshuffle of six ministers and the appointment of ten new ministers, is part of the reform process to address public grievances.

Newly-appointed ministers

1. Ambassador Teshome Toga – Minister of Public Enterprises
2. Dr Hirut Woldemariam – Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
3. Siraj Fegessa – Minister of Transport
4. Uba Mohammed – Minister of Communications and Information Technology
5. Dr Ambachew Mekonnen – Minister of Industry
6. Ahmed Shide – Minister of Government Communications
7. Shiferaw Shigute – Minister of Agriculture and Livestock
8. Motuma Mekassa – Minister of Defense
9. Dr Amir Aman – Minister of Health
10. Fozia Amin – Minister of Culture and Tourism
11. Meles Alemu – Minister of Mines and Energy
12. Yealem Tsegaye – Minister of Women and Children Affairs
13. Melaku Alebel – Minister of Trade
14. Jantrar Abay – Minister of Urban Development and Housing
15. Berhanu Tsegaye – Attorney General with the rank of Minister
16. Umar Hussein – Director General of Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority with the rank of Minister

Ministers that have remained in their previous posts:

1. Demeke Mekonnen – Deputy Prime Minister
2. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu – Minister of Foreign Affairs
3. Dr Abreham Tekesete – Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation
4. Dr Tilay Gete – Minister of Education
5. Kebede Chanie – Minister of Federal and Pastoralist Affairs
6. Tagesse Chafo – Minister of Public and Human Resource
7. Sileshi Bekele – Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity
8. Dr Getahun Mekuria – Minister of Science and Technology
9. Restu Yirdaw – Minister of Youth and Sports
10. Dr Gemeda Dole – Minister of Environment, Forest Development and Climate Change
11. Asmelash Woldeselassie – Chief Government Whip at the House of People’s Representatives with the rank of Minister
12. Yinager Desie – Commissioner of National Plan Commission with the rank of Minister

Addressing the parliament, PM Abiy said the ministers should administer their new roles by fighting corruption and ensuring good governance.

In related news, a new speaker of the House of People’s Representatives (Parliament) was also elected, replacing Aba Dulla Gemeda who had served as speaker for six years. Muferait Kemil, the former Women and Children Affairs Minister, is the new speaker of the House of People’s Representatives – the first female to hold the position.

The House also approved the draft bill prepared to merge the Ministry of Farming and Natural Resource and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries into the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.