Lawmakers approved the appointments during a session in the capital, Addis Ababa, that was broadcast on national television. Abiy appointed Aisha Mohammed as defense minister, making her one of 10 women in his cabinet, and retained Workneh Gebeyehu as foreign affairs minister. “The new cabinet is expected to reform their respective ministries, remove the walls of bureaucracy, bring innovation and technology to provide services efficiently,” Abiy told lawmakers. Abiy has enacted far-reaching political and economic reforms since coming to power in Africa’s second-most populous nation in April. Shide previous served as Ethiopia’s information minister, while Mohammed was formerly construction minister.

Source: Ethiopian News October 16, 2018 12:45 UTC