Women politicians in Ethiopia

"In so many areas — agriculture, transport, energy, the water sector, multisector — the support we have been getting for years from the African Development Bank, up to more than one billion dollars, has been very vital for Ethiopia."

"Let me assure you that I will do my best not only as an Ethiopian but as an African in my heart and soul; so that we can show the world that women can also deliver, maybe differently, but deliver."

"Despite many obstacles facing young people, they are always hopeful and optimistic that they will be able to enter the job market and make significant contributions to their society; and they are placing increasing importance in creating their own opportunities and becoming entrepreneurs, including in growing areas, such as green technologies."

"I dream of an Ethiopia, of an Africa that is free of hunger, a world where no mother should bury their child because of hunger or worst still because no one cares."

"The absence of peace victimizes firstly women, so during my tenure, I will emphasize women’s roles in ensuring peace and the dividends of peace for women."

"I recognize that no society or political order is perfect but we have the duty and obligation to ensure that we are moving toward a less imperfect political order to a more perfect order for all citizens."

"Child hunger is a moral challenge to us all. As a citizen, I find that hunger is not just a moral issue but it is also a political issue in the larger sense of the word"

"As you are best placed to know, young people are rarely consulted in meaningful ways during the creation of strategies. Nor are they identified as a major group experiencing unemployment and poverty. Few of the action plans link youth-focused strategies to specific targets and budget outlays or regard the youth situation as a major cross-cutting issue."

"If the history of Africa was written by Africans and by women, I think we would find many unsung heroes."

"Government and opposition parties have to understand we are living in a common house and focus on things that unite us, not what divides us, to create a country and generation that will make all of us proud"

"For the mother who sees her child die because of lack of food, the economy of resource scarcity is irrelevant and the politics of public policy does not matter; they do not help a grieving mother, she has lost her child because there is no food, worst still, because no one cares."

"“I grew up in a family of four girls. I’m the firstborn. But I had a very amazing family especially my father, who has always told us that there is nothing that a woman or a girl cannot do. So this has been my motto all my life and in whatever I did, by the way, I was the first woman to do this, the first woman to do that, so I was daring.”"

"Peace is not simply the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, equality, and opportunity."

"Women bring a different perspective to leadership, one rooted in inclusiveness and compassion."

"Africa’s future depends on how we empower our youth today."

"Democracy must deliver dignity and hope, not just institutions."

"It is a great honor to return to the Ministry of Defense. I am committed to strengthening Ethiopia’s security, working to ensure peace and stability in the region, and advancing the modernization of our defense forces."

"I look forward to strengthening our ties with Somalia and ensuring that both our nations move forward in peace and cooperation, especially in defense matters."

"As Defense Minister, I understand the magnitude of the responsibility I carry. I am committed to facing the challenges head-on and ensuring that Ethiopia remains secure and resilient."

"Appointed minister of defense, Aisha Mohammed Mussa is a fighter who will have the demanding task of leading Ethiopia's defense efforts at a critical time for the nation."

"We want to become the backbone of the economy."

"Sinknesh is not a woman of excuses; under her leadership and a great team effort, the mining industry is growing significantly with major involvement of the private sector."

"Sinknesh is a great role model to many young women of our nation and AWiB thanks her for sharing her story."

"She is strong in delegation and supporting others realize their dreams."

"She leads her life with a purpose and her purpose is to see this country prosper. Her purpose is to work to the best of her ability to support the nation’s economic agenda succeed."

"It may be that the issues I have raised today as the lone woman here, have been defeated. But one day there shall be many of us standing here and you will listen to our voices then!"

"History may remember the late Honorable Dr. Senedu Gebru foremost as the first woman elected to Parliament, but her contributions to this nation were so many and varied, she could rightly be considered Ethiopia’s Renaissance Woman of the 20th century."

"Senedu Gebru was known as a strict disciplinarian and fierce advocate of women’s rights."

"She may not have been Ethiopia’s first feminist in a sense but she certainly gave voice to the women of Ethiopia like they had never had before."

"Throughout most of her life, Senedu had always been an avid reader."

"Senedu’s ascent to Parliament can rightly be considered one of her more extraordinary accomplishments."

"We'll take this opportunity . . . to leave behind the mentality of tearing down to rebuild," the Mayor said. "[We'll] take the middle road, ensuring a political journey with the participation of all Ethiopians."

"She's very strict and expects her standards from everyone she works with."

"She reanimated the association. I've learned more from working with her than I did at school."

"I don't think she deserves to be mayor."

"…the award is the result of the relentless struggle waged by Ethiopian women."

"Fifty-one year old Azeb is today one of the most vilified and demonized figures in Ethiopian history."

"Interviewer: Anything else you would like to share? Billene Seyoum:I consider myself a feminist and not afraid to claim the word despite the perception it draws in people’s minds. In this regard, I encourage people to seek to understand before concluding."

"Interviewer: What leisure time activities are you involved with? (You are also known for writing poetry and engaging in activities that promote gender equality) Billene Seyoum:I absolutely love hiking and trekking and seize opportunities to do so whenever I can. I consistently write poetry and now perform every month. However, writing poetry is not a leisurely activity for me – rather it is a continuous artistic exhalation to that endured and experienced in the inner realm. [Billene has been writing since the age of 12]."

"To reflect on the historical significance of…a landmark event marking a significant milestone in our collective journey towards transforming Africa’s urban landscapes."

"Centers of economic growth but are facing the challenges of extreme and slow-onset events that have compromised urban infrastructure."

"Ethiopia is undergoing rapid urbanization and is facing the onslaught of the climate crisis."

"Ethiopia is working with development partners to strengthen the regulatory and legal framework and institutional coordination mechanisms to integrate these initiatives within urban systems."

"Chaltu Sani called on international development partners to enhance their cooperation in the realization of the Urbanization and Climate Change Agenda in Africa and in Ethiopia, in particular."

"I was fired because my party TPLF refused to join the Prosperity Parity. I am entitled to my conviction but the current government does not obey legal rules. There is nothing else, my firing was motivated by that."

"We would like to notify that those to be appointed outside of the procedures and laws of the party can not take over power and work."

"The war has polarised the country so deeply that I know many people will label me as a liar simply because I say the government has also done painful, horrible things."

"We brought back the most painful stories, and every side was implicated."

"I said, ‘I won’t do it unless the prime minister calls me himself, or you put it in writing."

"It’s now been 100 days since the day we met, and it has only gotten worse. I knew it then, I knew it before then, and I know it now: he’s in denial, he’s delusional. His leadership is failing."

"Where there is gender inequality, corruption flourishes and where there is corruption, gender inequality flares."

"Mrs. Demitu led the mobilization of community resources to ensure sustainable protection for vulnerable children, the empowerment of women development groups and created impactful awareness to increase health service utilization by women and children which included the pre-screening of cancer through free examination for women."

"It was a very difficult time"

"We were responding to all of these issues at the same time, having to constantly adjust and be agile to try to mitigate the pandemic and make sure there was continuity of essential health care services."

"Having been in many leadership roles, I know that the ability to make positive change is related to how strong a leader is."

"Dealing with a lot of emergencies as well as a lot of strategic priorities, if I’d had this program while I was minister, I know I would have benefited from the continued support to drill down on fewer areas for more impact."

"Because there are different ways of doing things, and there’s a lot to be learned from developing countries. Instilling that principle is essential as we grow as a global community and work to make the world a better place for everyone, everywhere."

"Dr. Lia is passionate about strengthening and reforming health systems and has received several recognitions for her accomplishments in fighting the covid-19 pandemic, in advocacy for gender equity, access to quality health services and training."

"Even though there's still a lot to be done, we see institutional reforms in many directions. These are good opportunities."

"I signed on that document. This is a fact that I can't change, even if I want to."

"shortfalls are inevitable given factors such as... a nascent democratic culture and an increasingly charged political and security environment."

"the new premier described her as someone who would never surrender, even to the government."

"She didn't solve the problem, but they then rebuilt an underground network from scratch, successfully."

"As a passionate African leader, I am committed to driving positive change, fostering unity, and unlocking opportunities for inclusive growth."

"With a Public Management and Policy background, I’ve spent over 17 years dedicated to serving my community and continent."

"Dagmawit’s commitment to aviation safety has been unparalleled. We applaud her contribution to the African #Aviation industry and the bold leadership she has shown as Ethiopia's Minister of Transport and Logistics."

"The ceremony will bring Ethiopian couples from across the nation, displaying their traditional attire and marriage practices, thereby elevating Ethiopia’s cultural profile globally."

"Such events help transfer cultural values from generation to generation and showcase our rich traditions."

"These public festivals are essential and deserve our support."

"We need to exhaust our every potential of influence to uplift vulnerable group of our society"

"I touched every button, I knocked every door collaborated with many and never gave up when things were hopeless. I cannot give the details of the achievements at this juncture but can share my experiences to whoever interested if the need be in the future"

"My husband and I are committed to serve the people of Ethiopia using our organization; like wise we are committed to support with our capacity OAFLAD and our continent Africa in whatever way you want us"

"Joint efforts are needed to redirect our interventions towards high-burden regions and geographical hotspots in view of changing the epidemic trends in Ethiopia"

"It is high time that African nations put in place favourable policies and increase youth targeted investments"

"We need to lift and break the barriers faced by African youth in accessing and utilizing reproductive health information and services"

"Ethiopia is suffering from drought and water shortage, this high-tech, zero waste, no-plastic-bottle-waste water purification solution, will directly help schools and communities"

"With a collective multisectoral collaboration among all stakeholders, prevention, control and treatment of cancer is within reach and under our control"

"Ethiopia is proud of being a member of BRICS and considers the platform beyond just political engagements as it mainly involves economic development, trade and investment exchanges, technology transfer, cultural and people-to-people ties"

"Women are more concerned about nutrition than anybody else. We are happy that it is now a concern for all in the world, including men and women"