Lawmakers approved the appointments during a session in the capital, Addis Ababa, that was broadcast on national television. Abiy appointed Aisha Mohammed as defense minister, making her one of 10 women in his cabinet, and retained Workneh Gebeyehu as foreign affairs minister.
"The new cabinet is expected to reform their respective ministries, remove the walls of bureaucracy, bring innovation and technology to provide services efficiently," Abiy told lawmakers. They also backed reducing government ministries to 20 from 28.