Ethiopia Approves New Cabinet, Names 62 State Ministers

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has advanced the formation of his new government with appointments spanning 62 state-minister posts across 22 ministries and institutions, after parliament approved his cabinet and returned him to a five-year term. Fitsum Assefa Adela, formerly planning and development minister, was named finance minister as Ethiopia restructures its external debt and seeks to attract private investment; Ahmed Shide, the outgoing finance minister, became speaker of the lower house. Former Ethio Telecom chief Frehiwot Tamiru was appointed innovation and technology minister, while Mohammed Edris took the defense portfolio as federal forces face renewed conflict in Tigray. The reshuffle also places former national ID program head Yodahe Arayasellassie in a state-minister role in the technology ministry, amid the expansion and restructuring of the national digital identity initiative.