Africa’s second most populous nation, Ethiopia, just chose it’s first ever female President in Sahle-Work Zewde. A former diplomat, the 68 year old Zewde was unanimously elected by the country’s Federal Parliamentary Assembly to become the African Continent’s only female head of state, and only the second ever after Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018.

Zewde who has a lengthy Diplomatic resume was the immediate former UN Director General at the UN in Nairobi, Kenya.

In her first speech in parliament, Zewde placed a spotlight on women’s issues pointing out that women are the first victims when there is an absence of peace, with a promise to prioritize women’s roles in ensuring peace.