Ethiopia Elects First Female Supreme Court President

Meaza Ashenafi has been appointed as President of the Ethiopian Supreme Court. Wikimedia Commons.

In its latest move toward gender equality and political reform, Ethiopia appointed its first female Supreme Court president in modern history on November 1.

Meaza Ashenafi, a prominent lawyer and women’s rights activist, was unanimously approved by Parliament after her nomination by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. She is credited with having started the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association and led the development of an all-female bank. She also worked for the United Nations Commission on Africa and served as a judge on Ethiopia’s High Court for three years.

Ashenafi’s most prominent case was in 1996, when she acquitted 14-year-old Aberash Bekele, who shot and killed a man that tried to abduct her into marriage. The notable case instigated a debate in the country. Sixteen years later, the case became the basis for the 2014 Angelina Jolie-produced film Difret, which depicted Ashenafi’s legal defense of the girl and brought the lawyer to international attention. Abductions such as these continue in the country’s rural regions.

Ashenafi’s historic appointment is one of many in the East African nation since Ahmed took power in April. Parliament appointed Ethiopia's first female president in October, making it the only African country with a female head of state.

The week prior, Ahmed unveiled his new half-female cabinet, a landmark move toward gender representation in politics. Ten of the country’s top 20 ministers are now women. Most notably, the ministries of defense and peace, two of the most prominent and powerful, are now headed by women. After the nominations, Ethiopia became the third African country after Rwanda and the Seychelles to achieve gender parity in its cabinet.

In addition to his moves toward greater gender equality, Ahmed’s leadership has been marked by reforms in every part of society. Since April, he has released thousands of political prisoners, ended a state of emergency designed to quiet unrest, opened up key sectors of the economy, and brokered peace with longtime rival Eritrea.