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| Ethiopian's Birtukan Mideksa appointed election boss | Ethiopian's Birtukan Mideksa appointed election boss |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former judge and leading opposition figure has been sworn in as the head of Ethiopia's electoral board. | A former judge and leading opposition figure has 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. | Birtukan Mideksa is the latest significant appointment of a woman to a key public office. |
| Ms Birtukan returned to Ethiopia earlier this month after seven years in exile in the US. | 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. | She was among dozens of opposition leaders jailed after the disputed elections of 2005 that led to the deaths of hundreds of people. |
| The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in the capital Addis Ababa says she faces a key challenge in restoring faith in an electoral board that has constantly faced accusations of being manipulated by the state - and will oversee elections in May 2020. | The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in the capital Addis Ababa says she faces a key challenge in restoring faith in an electoral board that has constantly faced accusations of being manipulated by the state - and will oversee elections in May 2020. |
| Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has carried out wide-ranging reforms since coming to office in April. | Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has carried out wide-ranging reforms since coming to office in April. |
| These include making peace with neighbouring Eritrea after two decades of conflict, freeing political prisoners and welcoming back armed opposition groups from exile. | |
| The 42-year-old leader has also given half of the government's 20 ministerial posts to women and last month the parliament chose Sahle-Work Zewde as the country's first female president, a ceremonial role. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'We are ready for democracy' | |
| After her appointment, Ms Birtukan said she felt her career as a judge would help resolve the conflicts and differences that were likely to arise in her new role. | |
| But she said that Ethiopians across the board had shown they were ready for change. | |
| "The Ethiopian people are ready to build the democratic system they want and to hold the government accountable - and they have showed us that by paying the sacrifice needed," Ms Birtukan told journalists. | |
| "So, I believe that that public readiness is one good opportunity. | |
| "Even though there's still a lot to be done, we are seeing many institutional reforms in many directions. These are good opportunities. | |
| "And I believe that fact that this government has proved its commitment for a genuine and true democracy is another good opportunity." |