Government Overhauls Ministerial Mandates As Cabinet Reshuffle Looms

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has unveiled a major institutional overhaul of Ethiopia’s federal bureaucracy as he begins his new five-year term, proposing a significant realignment of executive mandates without expanding the overall number of cabinet seats. A draft proclamation submitted to the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) keeps the total count of ministry-level institutions at 22, but reallocates responsibilities and renames key ministries to align the federal government with its updated policy priorities.

Approved by the Council of Ministers during its regular meeting on September 28, the draft serves as the primary structural blueprint for the incoming administration following the June 2026 general election. It replaces the framework established under Proclamation No. 1263/2021, aiming to streamline overlapping duties, establish clearer institutional mandates, and improve inter-agency coordination across the executive branch.