Ethiopia's PM names Ahmed Shide as finance minister

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday named Ahmed Shide as finance minister to replace Abraham Tekeste, the state broadcaster said.

Shide was government spokesman before the appointment. Abiy, who took office in April after several years of unrest forced his predecessor to quit, moved to re-constitute his cabinet to make it more inclusive.

He also reduced cabinet posts to 20 from 28 by merging ministries like that of trade and industry.

A new “ministry of peace” was also set up after a spate of ethnic clashes in recent months. It will be headed by Muferiat Kemal, a former speaker of parliament.

Dagmawit Moges, a former mayor of the capital was appointed as defense minister, the first female to occupy that position.