Ethiopia’s parliament – The House of Peoples Representatives, HPR, was meeting this morning to discuss a range of issues tabled by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, including the approval of a new downsized cabinet as agreed by the Council of Ministers last week. The new cabinet posts were reduced from 28 to 20.
It also created new ministries reflecting the government priorities, such as the Ministry of Peace.
“The main problem in this country is the lack of peace. This peace ministry will be working hard to ensure it prevails,” Mr Abiy told deputies.
A few of the ministries are going to merge. Among the notable ones, the Ministry of Trade will join with the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Science and Technology is to unite with the Ministry of Communications and Information. The Construction Ministry, for its part, will join the Ministry of Urban Development.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also announced the names of his new Ministers. The new ministerial portfolio will have a record number of female ministers consisting 10 out of the 20 ministers. This includes the position of Minister of defence, which will be held by a woman for the first time in history.
HPR speaker Muferiat Kamil will assume the new ministerial portfolio, Ministry of Peace; Workneh Gebeyehu will remain as minister of Foreign Affairs; and Ahmed Shide will become Minister of Finance, where he was a state minister before moving to communication.
Ahmed dissolved the Government Communication Affairs Office, which was led by Ahmed Shide with ministerial portfolio and instated it under the Prime Minister’s office.
Muferiat’s Ministry of Peace will oversee the National Intelligence & Security Service (NISS); Information Network Security Agency (INSA); Federal Police Commission; & Finance Security & Info. Center. It will also assume the roles of Federal & Pastoralist Deve’t Affairs.
The following agencies will be under the auspices of the House of People’s Representatives (HPR): Ethiopian News Agency (ENA); Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority (EBA); Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA); Federal anti-corruption commission; & Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.
Source: Addis Standard
