ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's House People's Representatives on Tuesday approved the appointment of new cabinet members upon the endorsement of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The newly introduced cabinet has also marked a record number of female representation, with women accounting for half of the 20-member cabinet.
Ahmed on Tuesday presented 16 new cabinet members for approval to the HoPR, the Ethiopian parliament's lower house; only four of the previous cabinet's members remained in their positions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Health Amir Aman, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity Seleshi Bekele, and Attorney General with the Rank of Minister Birhanu Tsegaye, are the four who have remained in their ministerial positions.
Following the unanimous endorsement by the parliament's lower house, the new cabinet now has 20 members, 16 of which were appointed on Tuesday.
The 16 incoming members include Minister of Peace Muferiat Kamil, Minister of Defense Aisha Mohammed, Minister of Finance and Economy Ahmed Shide, Minister of Agriculture Umer Hussien, Minister of Trade and Industry Fetlework Gebregziabher, Minister of Revenue Adanech Abebe, and Minister of Innovation and Technology Getahun Mekuria.
Other members of the new cabinet include Minister of Transport Dagmawit Mogess, Minister of Urban Development and Construction Jantirar Abay, Minister of Mines and Petroleum Samuel Hurko, Minister of Education Tilaye Gete, Minister of Science and Higher Education Hirut Woldemariam, and Minister of Women, Children and Youth Yalemtsegay Assefa.
Ergoge Tesfaye was also appointed as minister of labor and social affairs, Hirut Kassaw as minister of culture and tourism, and Fitsum Assefa as the new minister of Planning and Development Commission.
