Ethiopian parliament approves Birtukan Mideksa as elections boss

A former judge and opposition leader have been sworn in as the head of Ethiopia's electoral board. Birtukan Mideksa is the latest significant appointment of a woman to a key public office.

Prime minister, Abiy Ahmed while nominating Mideksa, described her as one with respect for the rule of law, and possessing the ‘stamina, independence and impartiality’ needed at the electoral board. ‘‘She believes in the equality of all Ethiopians,” Abiy said.

Ms Birtukan returned to Ethiopia earlier this month after seven years in exile in the US. She was among dozens of opposition leaders jailed after the disputed elections of 2005 that led to the deaths of hundreds of people.

Some lawmakers reportedly questioned her independence, considering her past roles as an opposition leader and critic of the ruling coalition.

A former federal judge who was frustrated by the disregard of the law and constitutional procedures by the ruling EPRDF, Mideksa joined active politics, playing key roles in several opposition parties including Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice and Coalition for Unity and Democracy.

The office of the prime minister said Mideksa’s appointment is aimed at helping Abiy ‘realise his promise of electoral reforms and strengthening the elections board ahead of the 2020’ elections.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has carried out wide-ranging reforms since coming to office in April.

These include making peace with neighboring Eritrea after two decades of conflict, freeing political prisoners and welcoming back armed opposition groups that were once in exile.

The 42-year-old leader has also given half of the government's 20 ministerial posts to women.

Recently he was commended for appointing renowned human rights lawyer Meaza Ashenafi - whose efforts to tackle the underage marriage of girls formed the basis of an Angelina Jolie-produced Hollywood film in 2014 - as the country's most senior judge.