The unanimous election of Sahle-Work Zewde by the Federal Parliamentary Assembly on 25 October 2018 marked the first time a woman served as president of Ethiopia. A seasoned diplomat who built her career within international organizations and foreign services, she ascended to the ceremonial head of state role following the sudden resignation of Mulatu Teshome.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Addis Ababa in 1950, Sahle-Work is of Amhara origin and the eldest of four children. Her academic foundation was established at the Lycée Guebre-Mariam in her home city. She later relocated to France to study natural science at the University of Montpellier. Her linguistic proficiency includes fluency in Amharic, English, and French.
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Sahle-Work was the second woman in Ethiopian history to attain the rank of ambassador. Her tenure began in 1989 as ambassador to Senegal, with additional accreditation covering Mali, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Guinea. From 1993 to 2002, she represented Ethiopia in Djibouti and acted as a representative to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. She subsequently served as ambassador to France, Tunisia, and Morocco, while also representing her nation to UNESCO. Her career further included leadership roles in the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
United Nations Assignments
Her international work extended to high-level United Nations appointments. She served as head of the United Nations Integrated Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic until 2011. Following this, she became Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, where she oversaw the expansion of the office as a key regional hub. In June 2018, Secretary-General António Guterres named her his Special Representative to the African Union, making her the first woman to hold that position at the level of Under-Secretary-General.
Presidency and Domestic Policy
During her tenure as president from 2018 to 2024, Sahle-Work navigated significant domestic challenges. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she facilitated the pardon of over 5,500 prisoners across two separate actions. Later that year, she commuted the death sentences of two former Derg officials, Berhanu Bayeh and Adis Tedla, to life imprisonment. Regarding the conflict in Tigray, she publicly advocated for unconditional negotiations while supporting government defensive measures.
Fast facts
- Born: 1950, Addis Ababa
- Presidency: 2018-2024
- Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
- Languages: English, Amharic
- Education: Lycée Guebre-Mariam, University of Montpellier
Questions readers ask
Was Sahle-Work Zewde the first woman to serve as Ethiopia's head of state?
She was the first woman to serve as president in the modern era, and the first female head of state since Empress Zewditu.
What official positions did she hold within the United Nations?
She served as head of the peace-building office in the Central African Republic, Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi, and Special Representative to the African Union.
Achievements
- President of Ethiopia (2018–2024)
- Educated at University of Montpellier and Lycée Guebre-Mariam
