Longtime diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde has become Ethiopia's first female president. 

Following months of peace talks with Eritrea, Ethiopia has also been in the midst of national reform capped off with Thursday's appointment. The role of the president is mostly a ceremonial one, according to BBC News, and Zewde’s presidency marks the nation's commitment to change. 

A unanimous vote confirmed the 68-year-old during a joint session of the houses of parliament – the House of Peoples' Representatives and the House of the Federation. 

She will replace outgoing president Mulatu Teshome, who resigned unexpectedly. Throughout her career as a diplomat, Zewde held several positions representing the nation, reports Al Jazeera. 

Her most recent positions included acting as the special representative of the United Nations' secretary-general and the head of the UN office to the African Union.

Zewde's extensive resume includes a stint serving as the head of the UN office to Kenya. She was Ethiopia's go-to ambassador to multiple nations including France, Djibouti and Senegal.

In her first address to parliament, Zewde pledged to be an ambassador of peace and a champion for women and girls' rights.

"I urge you all, to uphold our peace, in the name of a mother, who is the first to suffer from the absence of peace,'' she said.

As president, she will work under Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who holds the executive powers. Zewde will join a long line of impressive female Ethiopian leaders including women like Empress Zewditu.


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Ethiopian presidentSahle-Work Zewde