Ethiopia: Taye Atske-Selassie Sworn in as President

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Above: Ethiopia's then-Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie speaks at a press briefing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Aug. 30, 2024. Image copyright: Michael Tewelde/Contributor/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie was sworn in as the country's new president on Monday, shortly after the two houses of parliament elected him to replace Sahle-Work Zewde.

  • In his inauguration speech, Taye said that "all doors to peace remain widely open" with individuals and groups but cautioned that attempts to "achieve political goals through force" wouldn't be tolerated.

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The Spin

Narrative A

Facing complex issues at home and abroad, the authoritarian Abiy regime effectively forced Sahle-Work to resign the presidency so Taye could emerge as the new head of state in an attempt to stabilize Ethiopia. Though unlikely, this change may lead to a new era in which the federal government meets the people's aspirations.

Zehabesha

Narrative B

Given the groundbreaking impact of her appointment as Ethiopia's first female president six years ago, it's natural that Sahle-Work's resignation is a shock to those who don't closely follow local politics. However, the fact is that she disappointingly saw widespread gender violence in Tigray and deadly conflicts across the country in silence.

Semafor

Metaculus Prediction