The House of People’s Representatives on Wednesday approved the new Cabinet of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The 22-member Cabinet was endorsed by 342 lawmakers, while one voted against it and 12 abstained. The Cabinet also included three people from the opposition, Birhanu Nega (Education Ministry), from Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice, Kejela Merdasa (Ministry of Culture and Sport) from Oromo Liberation Front and from Amhara National Movement, Belete Molla (Ministry of Information and Technology).
Demeke Mekonnen retained his position as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and Ahmed Shide as Finance Minister.
Abreham Belay became Defense Minister. He was the minister of technology and innovation in the previous Cabinet.
The ministers were sworn in by the president of the Supreme Court Meaza Ashenafi.
The country’s House of People’s Representatives began its sixth tenure for a five-year term on Monday.
