Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is shaking things up in his Administration. Meles received majority approval from the House of People’s Representatives, in his effort to reshuffle ministerial posts that included dissolving the powerful Ministry of Information. 

The Former Minister of Information has been re-appointed to be the justice chief.  Berhan Hailu, who served as Minister of Information since 2005, was appointed Minister of Justice.

The shuffle within Meles’s cabinet was announced on Thursday during the prime minister’s parliamentary address. 

Other ministerial appointments saw former Minister of Information Hailemariam Desalegn became the governments representative in parliament with a ministerial portfolio. Little known Siraj Fergesa, took the Ministry of Defense, Demeka Mekonnen was named Minister of  Education,  Junedin Sado became the Head of Science and Technology,  Shiferaw Teklemariam was given  Federal Affairs as Tefera Deribew and Diriba Kuma were appointed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Transport and Communication respectively. Muferiat Kamil heads Women’s Affairs.

Several of the appointments were made to fill vacancies, such as the ministry of defense, where the previous minister has been serving as mayor of Addis Ababa for the past five months.  Tefera Deribew assumes a position previously held by the deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legesse.