Parliament Approves Abiy Ahmed’s New Cabinet as Fitsum Assefa Takes Finance

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Newly appointed federal ministers take the oath of office in the House of Peoples’ Representatives in Addis Ababa on Oct. 8, 2026, in a photo posted by the Office of the Prime Minister. (Photo: Office of the Prime Minister – Ethiopia / X)

Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives on Thursday unanimously approved the 22 federal ministers nominated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, completing the cabinet of the new government after he began a fresh five-year term this week.

Fitsum Assefa, who led Planning and Development for eight years, was named Minister of Finance, replacing Ahmed Shide, who was elected Speaker of the House at the opening of the new parliamentary term, The Reporter Ethiopia reported. Frehiwot Tamiru, the former chief executive of Ethio Telecom, was appointed Minister of Innovation and Technology. Temesgen Tiruneh kept the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

Several senior figures stayed in place. Gedion Timothewos remains Minister of Foreign Affairs, Birhanu Nega stays at Education, Addisu Arega at Agriculture, Hana Arayaselassie at Justice, Habtamu Itefa at Water and Energy, Mekdes Daba at Health, and Aynalem Niguse at Revenues, according to The Reporter and the state-run Ethiopian News Agency.

Mohammed Idris, previously Minister of Peace, was named Minister of Defense. Musa Adem, chairman of the Afar People’s Party, takes the Peace portfolio. The Planning ministry was renamed the Ministry of National Strategy under Bereket Fissehatsion, and Transport and Logistics was reconstituted as the Ministry of Logistics under Sadat Nesha. Women hold nine of the 22 ministerial posts, about 41 percent, The Reporter said. The appointments also mark the first time a minister from the Harari Region has been named to a federal cabinet post, the paper reported.

The House endorsed the list in the first regular session of the seventh parliamentary term, ENA said. The nominees then took the oath of office, the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X. Abiy Ahmed later appointed Ambassador Betre Mengistu as head of the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and named Adem Farah coordinator for democratic system building with the rank of deputy prime minister, according to @PMEthiopia.

On X, Addis Standard (@addisstandard) wrote at 3:26 AM ET that parliament “unanimously approves PM Abiy’s cabinet nominees” and that Abiy Ahmed “presented the nominees to the House as the first regular session of the new parliamentary term commenced.” Addis Fortune (@addis_fortune) reported at 9:30 AM ET that Abiy Ahmed “has put his new cabinet on notice, telling federal legislators that it was formed after intelligence-supported scrutiny of ministers” and that “no one in it holds a permanent post.” Abiy Ahmed (@AbiyAhmedAli) wrote at 7:26 AM ET that “an appointment is not a position for leisure; rather, it is a realm of diligent labor and a profound national trust,” and said the work ahead must keep Ethiopia “sovereign in its decision-making, united amidst diversity,” and “a leading regional and continental anchor.” Sputnik Ethiopia (@sputnik_ethio) posted in Amharic at 8:24 AM ET, “የኢትዮጵያ ፓርላማ የሚኒስትሮች ምክር ቤት አባላትን ሹመት በይፋ አፅድቋል,” saying parliament had formally approved the Council of Ministers appointments and asking in a video who was included in the new cabinet.

The cabinet changes follow the opening of the seventh parliamentary term on Oct. 5, when newly elected members were sworn in and Abiy Ahmed was re-elected and sworn in for another five-year term. Fighting continues in Tigray, Afar and Amhara even as the federal government seats its new executive team in Addis Ababa.

Sources