Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday announced that Girma Amente, the country’s former agriculture minister, has been appointed as the African Union’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office and the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

The ministry said the appointment, made by AU Commission chair Mahmoud Ali Youssef, underscores Ethiopia’s standing within the continental body and its role in advancing African interests in global trade and multilateral negotiations.

Girma served as minister of agriculture from January 2023 until last month, during which Ethiopia moved from being a net wheat importer to one of Africa’s largest producers, creating an export surplus for the first time. His tenure was marked by the expansion of climate-smart farming practices, renewable energy adoption in rural communities, and the introduction of technology-driven solutions, including drone-based crop monitoring and biogas systems.

A former vice-president and infrastructure coordinator in the Oromia regional government, Girma also held the federal post of minister of public enterprises. He holds a PhD in civil culture, is an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, and has been involved in high-level engagements with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ forum, and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Summit. 

The foreign ministry said it was confident Girma would “serve with distinction” in Geneva, where he will lead the AU’s representation at two of the most influential multilateral institutions.