Sahle-Work Zewde

President of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia · Ethiopia · Politicians · Born 1950 · age 76

Sahle-Work Zewde is read about 297 times a day, in 75 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 23 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 398 days, one point a day.

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Ethiopia's first woman president, holding the office from 2018 to 2024 after a unanimous parliamentary vote - a diplomatic career that landed her at the top of a federal system where women had never led before.

Politicians Politician Politics 20th Century

A life in dates

2020“Africa’s future depends on how we empower our youth today.”In their wordsSource: Keynote address at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, 2020.Read the whole statement

2019“Women bring a different perspective to leadership, one rooted in inclusiveness and compassion.”In their wordsSource: African Union Gender Equality Forum, 2019.Read the whole statement

“Democracy must deliver dignity and hope, not just institutions.”In their wordsSource: Speech at the Ethiopian Parliament, 2019.Read the whole statement

2018Named President of EthiopiaOffice25 October 2018 to 7 October 2024“Peace is not simply the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, equality, and opportunity.”In their wordsSource: Inaugural speech as President of Ethiopia, 2018.Read the whole statement

1950Born21 February 1950

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Sahle-Work Zewde in 2016

Adam Boehler and Sahle-Work Zewde in Addis Ababa - 2019 (1)

Adam Boehler and Sahle-Work Zewde in Addis Ababa - 2019 (2)

Alexander Schallenberg visit to Ethiopia, January 2021 09

Alexander Schallenberg visit to Ethiopia, January 2021 10

Brahima Sanou et Sahle-Work Zewde à UNON, Nairobi, Kenya

Kadiatou Konaté et Sahlework Zewde (cropped)

Kadiatou Konaté et Sahlework Zewde

In their own words 10

Sahle-Work Zewde

10 statements, newest first

Africa’s future depends on how we empower our youth today.
2020, Source: Keynote address at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, 2020., Own words
Women bring a different perspective to leadership, one rooted in inclusiveness and compassion.
2019, Source: African Union Gender Equality Forum, 2019., Own words
Democracy must deliver dignity and hope, not just institutions.
2019, Source: Speech at the Ethiopian Parliament, 2019., Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

About this person

Born 21 February 1950, Sahle-Work Zewde built her path through diplomacy, working in roles that kept her outside the country's most visible political fights. On 25 October 2018, the Federal Parliamentary Assembly elected her president unanimously, breaking a threshold that had held since the republic's founding. She served until 2024. Forbes ranked her 93rd on its list of the world's 100 most powerful women - the highest-ranking African woman that year - a measure of attention more than authority in a role that carried symbolic weight but little executive power.

Country

Ethiopia

Politicians from Ethiopia 6

Abiy Ahmed68.5

Meles Zenawi61.7

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus61.3

Menelik II60.9

Taye Atske Selassie58.9

Hailemariam Desalegn58.0

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