In a surprise move the head of Ethiopia’s Supreme Court, Meaza Ashenafi, and her deputy, Solomon Areda, have resigned.

No reason has so far been given.

Judge Meaza, a former women’s rights activist, was appointed Supreme Court president in 2018, in a move that was seen as a testament to the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when he took office.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s she was a judge in Ethiopia’s high court. Later, she founded the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association to help women in need of legal advice.

One of the most famous cases in which she was involved was made into a movie, with Hollywood star Angelina Jolie serving as executive producer.

She has been replaced as Supreme Court president by Tewodros Mihret, a legal academic, whose appointment was approved by the country’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday.

Source:BBC