Sahle-Work Zewde: Pioneer Diplomat and First Female President of Ethiopia

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Sahle-Work Zewde (Note: In Ethiopian naming convention, she is referred to by her given name, Sahle-Work) is an Ethiopian diplomat and stateswoman who served as the fifth President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from 2018 to 2024. A career diplomat with decades of experience in high-level international roles, she became the first woman to hold the largely ceremonial, but highly symbolic, office.

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Key Biographical Information

Detail Information
Given Name Sahle-Work
Born February 21, 1950, Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Empire (now Ethiopia)
Political Office President of Ethiopia
Term of Office October 25, 2018 – October 7, 2024
Previous Roles Senior United Nations Diplomat, Ethiopian Ambassador
Education Natural Sciences, University of Montpellier, France
Significance First female President of Ethiopia and the only serving female head of state in Africa upon her appointment in 2018.

Early Life and Diplomatic Foundation

  • Education: Sahle-Work was born in Addis Ababa and attended the Lycée Guebre-Mariam, an international French school. She pursued higher education in France, graduating from the University of Montpellier with a degree in natural sciences. She is fluent in Amharic, French, and English.

  • Veteran Diplomat: Her career began in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but quickly transitioned to the international diplomatic field, making her a veteran of the Ethiopian foreign service with a career spanning over three decades. She was only the second woman to be appointed as an ambassador in Ethiopian history.

Career with the United Nations and Foreign Service

Sahle-Work Zewde held numerous high-profile diplomatic and UN posts, focusing primarily on African affairs, peace, and security.

  • Ethiopian Ambassadorial Roles: She served as Ethiopia’s ambassador to several countries, often with multiple accreditations:

    • Senegal (1989–1993) – Accredited to Mali, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Guinea.

    • Djibouti (1993–2002) – Also Permanent Representative to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a crucial role given Djibouti is the primary trade route for landlocked Ethiopia.

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    • France (2002–2006) – Also Permanent Representative to UNESCO and accredited to Tunisia and Morocco.

 

  • United Nations Leadership: She joined the UN in 2009 and served in senior roles focused on peacebuilding and development:

    • Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) (2009-2011).

    • Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) (2011–2018), the first dedicated position of its kind.

    • Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) (June 2018), becoming the first woman to hold this key liaison position.

Presidency of Ethiopia (2018–2024)

  • Unanimous Election: Sahle-Work was unanimously elected President by the members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly on October 25, 2018, replacing Mulatu Teshome. Her election was part of a broader reform agenda instituted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which included appointing a gender-balanced cabinet.

  • Ceremonial Role: Under the Ethiopian Constitution, the role of the President is largely ceremonial, with executive authority resting with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

 

  • Symbolic Leadership: Despite the lack of executive power, Sahle-Work used her office as a platform to advance crucial national and continental causes:

    • Gender Equality: She consistently championed the cause of women’s empowerment and participation in politics and all sectors of society.

    • Peace and Unity: Leveraging her diplomatic experience, she emphasized national unity, dialogue, and cooperation, stressing that peace is essential for sustainable development.

    • Humanitarian Acts: She publicly advocated for prison reform and utilized her presidential power to commute death sentences and issue pardons to facilitate peace and national reconciliation.

Legacy

Sahle-Work Zewde’s presidency was a powerful symbol of progress for gender equality in Ethiopia and Africa. Her long career as a highly respected, independent diplomat and UN official provided a moral compass for the nation during a challenging period of domestic reform and internal conflict (including the Tigray War). Her selection marked a definitive break from the tradition of appointing male political figures to the role, setting a high standard for Ethiopian public service.

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