Documented by Ezra Ejigu and AddisAlem Mulat.
Selamawit Kassa is a senior government leader with a distinguished record in tourism development, national communication strategy, and international representation.
Currently serving as Minister of Tourism for the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, she leads the promotion of Ethiopia as a premier global travel destination, oversees national destination development projects, and is a member of the Addis Ababa City Council.
she used to serve as State Minister at the Government Communication Service, acting as the official spokesperson for the Federal Government of Ethiopia. In this role, she oversaw national media relations, strategic messaging, and digital agenda-setting.
her core competencies are National Tourism Strategy & Promotion Destination Development & Investment Facilitation
Government Communication & Media Relations ,International Diplomacy & Stakeholder Engagement,Public Policy & Strategic Planning andTeam Leadership .
Selamawit Kassa is a senior government leader with a distinguished career spanning tourism development, national communication, and international representation. She currently serves as Minister of Tourism of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, where she leads the promotion of Ethiopia as a global travel destination, oversees national destination development initiatives, facilitates investment, and serves as a member of the Addis Ababa City Council.
Previously, Selamawit served as State Minister at the Government Communication Service, acting as the official spokesperson of the Federal Government. In this role, she led national media relations, strategic government messaging, and digital agenda-setting, representing Ethiopia on major international media platforms including Al Jazeera, BBC, and Sky News.
Her professional journey began in Addis Ababa’s “American Gibe” neighborhood, where early exposure to community life shaped her commitment to public service and storytelling. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Language and Literature and a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications, academic foundations that have strongly informed her leadership in public messaging, policy communication, and international engagement. She began her career as an English teacher at St. Joseph’s School before transitioning into journalism in 2010 at Ethiopian Television.
Over more than a decade in media, Selamawit evolved from reporter to presenter, producer, editor, and media executive. She covered foreign affairs, infrastructure, diplomacy, and regional integration, reporting extensively on flagship national projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, African infrastructure development, and Ethiopia’s economic diplomacy particularly within the AU, IGAD, and Ethiopia–Uganda relations. She was also among the founders of Fana Television, playing a key role in building and strengthening the network.
A defining period of her journalism career came in 2018, when she reported on the formation of Ethiopia’s new government, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Nobel Peace Prize, and Africa–China relations, providing live coverage from across the continent and beyond.
Motivated to serve beyond reporting, Selamawit transitioned into public leadership by successfully running for the Addis Ababa City Council, later assuming national executive responsibility at the Government Communication Service. This shift marked her continued commitment to amplifying citizens’ voices and shaping public policy at the highest level.
Throughout her journey, she credits her resilience, ambition, and values to her mother’s unwavering support and guidance.
