Two days after Ethiopia declared one of the world's most "gender-balanced" governments, including 50 percent of women, Rwanda did the same.
The East African country said late on Thursday that women make up half of the 26-member cabinet.
Rwanda joins a handful of countries, mostly European, where women constitute 50 per cent or more ministerial posts, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations Women's Organization.
The country received international recognition of women's representation in government, with 61 per cent of parliamentarians.
Ethiopia's move this week was the latest in a series of dramatic political and economic reforms under Prime Minister Abu Ahmed, who took office in April. My father reportedly told legislators that "women are less corrupt than men".
"The presence of more women in decision-making positions has led to a reduction in gender discrimination and gender-based crimes," Rwandan President Paul Kagame said Friday in a statement to judicial officials.
"This does not mean that men should not be involved," he said. "But it must play an important role in defending women's rights."
