Federal legislators have approved five cabinet-level positions last week with a member of Parliament (MP) voted against and two abstentions were counted. Gedion Timotheos (PhD) leads the charge as the new minister of Foreign Affairs, filling in Taye Asqeselassie’s shoes, where he stayed briefly before becoming the country's president. With law degrees from Addis Abeba and Central European universities, Gedion was previously Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Joining him in the redeveloping cabinet is Hana Arayaselassie, appointed as minister of Justice, replacing her spouse, Gedion. She hails from leadership roles in Ethiopian Investment Commission as well as Ethio Post. A graduate of law, she is also an Addis Abeba University alumnus. Gedion and Hana took up their positions earlier this month. Kasahun Gofe (PhD) was sworn in as minister of Trade & Regional Integration (MoTRI) while Shewit Shanka took the oath for position of minister of Culture & Sports. The two have been serving in their respective positions since July, following Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD) cabinet reshuffle at the time. Kassahun had previously been a state minister for the same Ministry. Shewit chairs Parliament’s Urban, Infrastructure & Transport Affairs Standing Committee. New to the Council of Ministers is Selamawit Kasa, taking the oath as minister of Tourism. A former journalist with Fana Broadcasting Corporate, Selamawit was promoted from state minister for Government Communications Service to her current post a few weeks ago, alongside Gedion and Hana. Member of Parliament Desalegn Chane (PhD) raised dissent with the appointment of Gedion, citing his track record at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). He asserted that MoJ was the plaintiff when MPs were unceremoniously arrested and held for months without the removal of their right to immunity. "The Ministry is still a weapon of the ruling party,” said Desalegn. He also took issue with the undisclosed reason which required the removal of ministers.
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