Ethiopia appoints female court president

Ethiopia’s parliament swore in the country’s first female Supreme Court president on Thursday, building on reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s efforts for gender equality in government. Meaza Ashenafi’s appointment came two weeks after Mr Ahmed named 10 female ministers, making Ethiopia the third country in Africa – after Rwanda and the Seychelles – to have a cabinet split between men and women. A prominent rights campaigner, Ms Ashenafi was an adviser on women’s rights at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in Addis Ababa. She received the parliament’s unanimous approval. Mr Ahmed said: “I have made the nomination with the firm belief that she has the capacity required, with her vast international experience in mind.”