New Ethiopian President promises to uphold “constitutional order”, vows to protect national unity

Ethiopia's newly appointed President, Taye Atske Selassie, in his inaugural speech, according to Addis Standard, stressed the importance of ensuring that “the monopoly of violence” belongs exclusively to “the government and its security apparatuses.”

Ethiopia's new President, Taye Atske Selassie, emphasised in his inaugural speech that only the government and its security forces should have “the monopoly of violence,” according to Addis Standard.

On Monday, October 7, 2024, the House of People's Representatives (HoPR) and the House of Federation (HoF) approved Taye's appointment, ending Sahle-Work Zewde's term as president.

Taye, who was born in Debarq in the Amhara region, studied political sciences, international relations, and strategic studies at Addis Ababa University and Lancaster University. He has a robust diplomatic background, having previously served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and held ambassadorial roles, including as a Permanent Representative to the UN and an ambassador to Egypt.

In his address, Taye outlined the government’s commitment to upholding “constitutional order” and ensuring the “safety and security” of Ethiopia’s citizens. He called for national unity, declaring, “When peace is built in Ethiopia, everyone must contribute.” He also emphasised the need for a collective effort to achieve a “multinational Ethiopia.”

Taye highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts across various sectors, particularly the work of the National Dialogue Commission and its consultation forums. He stated that these initiatives would play a “significant role in the nation-building process.”

He affirmed that “all doors to peace remain widely open” and that the government is willing to engage in peaceful dialogue “whether with individuals or groups.” However, he warned that any attempt to “achieve political goals through force” would not be tolerated, asserting that the government had “already given too much time” for such actions.

The new president also pledged legal action against those attempting to “weaken the age-old ties” among Ethiopians through hate speech, violence, and other divisive behaviours.

The transition from former President Sahle-Work Zewde has generated public speculation about her future. Recently, Sahle-Work posted on her X account, quoting Mahmoud Ahmed’s song “Silence is My Answer,” saying, “When a person feels sad and broken, when he has no place to go, silence is his only hope.” This post, along with reports suggesting her resignation could be imminent, has sparked debates about her reasons for stepping down.