{"id":179527,"date":"2026-10-08T09:58:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T13:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zegabi.com\/articles\/?p=179527"},"modified":"2026-10-08T09:58:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T13:58:14","slug":"parliament-approves-abiy-ahmeds-new-cabinet-as-fitsum-assefa-takes-finance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zegabi.com\/articles\/179527","title":{"rendered":"Parliament Approves Abiy Ahmed\u2019s New Cabinet as Fitsum Assefa Takes Finance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Newly appointed federal ministers take the oath of office in the House of Peoples\u2019 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)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Ethiopia\u2019s House of Peoples\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Mohammed Idris, previously Minister of Peace, was named Minister of Defense. Musa Adem, chairman of the Afar People\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Office posted on X. Abiy Ahmed later appointed Ambassador Betre Mengistu as head of the Prime Minister\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On X, Addis Standard (@addisstandard<\/a>) wrote at 3:26 AM ET that parliament \u201cunanimously approves PM Abiy\u2019s cabinet nominees\u201d and that Abiy Ahmed \u201cpresented the nominees to the House as the first regular session of the new parliamentary term commenced.\u201d Addis Fortune (@addis_fortune<\/a>) reported at 9:30 AM ET that Abiy Ahmed \u201chas put his new cabinet on notice, telling federal legislators that it was formed after intelligence-supported scrutiny of ministers\u201d and that \u201cno one in it holds a permanent post.\u201d Abiy Ahmed (@AbiyAhmedAli<\/a>) wrote at 7:26 AM ET that \u201can appointment is not a position for leisure; rather, it is a realm of diligent labor and a profound national trust,\u201d and said the work ahead must keep Ethiopia \u201csovereign in its decision-making, united amidst diversity,\u201d and \u201ca leading regional and continental anchor.\u201d Sputnik Ethiopia (@sputnik_ethio<\/a>) posted in Amharic at 8:24 AM ET, \u201c\u12e8\u12a2\u1275\u12ee\u1335\u12eb \u1353\u122d\u120b\u121b \u12e8\u121a\u1292\u1235\u1275\u122e\u127d \u121d\u12ad\u122d \u1264\u1275 \u12a0\u1263\u120b\u1275\u1295 \u1239\u1218\u1275 \u1260\u12ed\u134b \u12a0\u1345\u12f5\u124b\u120d,\u201d saying parliament had formally approved the Council of Ministers appointments and asking in a video who was included in the new cabinet.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h3>\n