Ethiopia’s two houses of parliament: The House of the Federation (Upper Chamber) and the House of People’s Representatives (Lower Chamber) elected Taye Atske Selassie, the country’s top diplomat as president yesterday Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
Taye Atske Selassie was sworn in on the same day. He was handed over the Constitution by the country’s outgoing president. He succeeds the country’s first female President Sahle-Work Zewde who was elected six years ago.
The AU Chairperson congratulated the departing FM on his election and further “reiterated the continued support of the African Union Commission to Ethiopia’s journey to deepen the country’s democracy and sustainable development.”
Taye is a seasoned diplomat, he notably served as Ethiopia’s Permanent ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
Former President, Zewde, who is being lauded for making history as Ethiopia’s first female president in 2018, resigned her job as the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the African Union to take up the role as president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
There were a few reports of a rift between her and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Sahle-Work Zewde is a 74-year-old Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the 5th president of Ethiopia from October 2018 to October 2024 and is the first woman to hold the office. She was elected as president unanimously by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly on 25 October 2018.
American business magazine Forbes, on its annual edition of the Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women, listed Sahle-Work as the 93rd most powerful woman in the world, and the highest-ranking African woman on the list.
Prior to her presidency, Sahle-Work had no experience in domestic politics. Although her role is largely ceremonial (with most executive power lying with the prime minister), Sahle-Work’s election made her Ethiopia’s first female head of state since Empress Zewditu. At the time she was appointed, Sahle-Work was the only female head of state in Africa, and by 2021, she was one of two alongside Samia Suluhu of Tanzania.
Taye Atske Selassie Made, born 13 January 1956 is an Ethiopian diplomat who is currently serving as the 6th president of Ethiopia as of 7 October 2024. He has worked as an ambassador on numerous occasions in the United Nations. Prior to assuming this role, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Taye Atske Selassie was born in Debarq, Gondar in Begemder Province in Ethiopia. He received post-graduation in Addis Ababa University and Lancaster University in England in Political Science International Relations, and Strategic Studies. He has worked as Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2018. Before his appointment to the UN, Taye served as Consul General of Ethiopia in Los Angeles at strategic roles in Washington DC, Stockholm, and notably as Ethiopia’s ambassador to Egypt. On 8 February 2024, he succeeded Demeke Mekonnen as Minister of Foreign Affairs upon Demeke’s resignation on 26 January.
On 7 October 2024, he was suddenly appointed as President of Ethiopia, succeeding Sahle-Work Zewde, whose term ended amid speculation and public debate. Taye’s appointment comes at a critical time for Ethiopia, with significant challenges in international relations and internal conflicts.
Global African Times congratulates His Excellency Taye Atske Selassie on his successful election as President, and we wish him a successful tenure.
