Sahle-Work Zewde

Sahle-Work Zewde is an Ethiopian diplomat and stateswoman who became the first woman to serve as president of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. She was elected unanimously by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly, becoming Ethiopia's first female head of state since Empress Zewditu. At the time of her appointment, she was the only female head of state in Africa. Forbes recognized her as one of the world's most powerful women, ranking her as the highest-ranking African woman on its annual list.

Before her presidency, Sahle-Work built a diplomatic career spanning more than three decades. She studied natural science at the University of Montpellier in France and is fluent in Amharic, French, and English. In the Ethiopian foreign service, she served as ambassador to Senegal—with accreditation to Mali, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, and Guinea—and later as ambassador to Djibouti and permanent representative to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. She also served as ambassador to France, permanent representative to UNESCO, and was accredited to Tunisia and Morocco. She was only the second woman to be appointed an ambassador in Ethiopian history.

Sahle-Work's career includes extensive service with the United Nations. She became the first African woman special representative of the secretary-general and head of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic. She was appointed director-general of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, where the office became a significant UN hub for East and Central Africa. She later served as special representative to the African Union and head of the United Nations Office to the African Union at the level of under-secretary-general, the first woman to hold the post.

As president, Sahle-Work advocated for gender equality, peace, and national unity. While the position of president is largely ceremonial, it carries important symbolic weight and social influence. At her swearing-in ceremony in parliament, she stated her intention to raise the issue of female empowerment throughout her term. She emphasized that if change in Ethiopia is led equally by men and women, it can sustain momentum and achieve a prosperous nation free of religious, ethnic, and gender discrimination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she pardoned more than 4,000 prisoners to curb the spread of the virus in Ethiopian prisons, and later pardoned more than 1,500 additional prisoners.

Since completing her presidential term, Sahle-Work has remained active in diplomacy and advocacy on the African continent. She serves as one of five facilitators and a member of an African Union mediation panel for the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. She continues to speak on topics such as diplomacy, the United Nations, and the role of women leaders. Her career demonstrates the impact of experienced leadership and the significant role women play in governance and international affairs.