Ethiopia's parliament has approved the appointment of a new president to replace the country's first female head of state, Sahle-Work Zewde. Taye Astike Selassie, foreign minister since February, has taken up the largely ceremonial role. In Ethiopia, political power lies with the prime minister - currently Abiy Ahmed.

The new president says Ethiopia will work to strengthen relationship with neighboring countries in all sectors

Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde left office on Monday, weeks after speculation swirled around her tenure. Ethiopia’s Federal House of People’s Representatives voted in Taye Atske Selassie, a former envoy to the UN who was appointed foreign minister earlier this year, as the new President.

Ethiopia’s parliament voted Taye Atske Selassie as the nation’s new president, a largely ceremonial position previously held by Sahle-Work Zewde.

Ethiopia's first female president, Sahle-Work Zewde, has resigned just days before the end of her tenure, amid reports of a fallout with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Ethiopia's parliament has approved the appointment of a new president to replace the country's first female head of state, Sahle-Work Zewde. Taye Astike Selassie, foreign minister since February, has taken up the largely ceremonial role.