Rwanda's leader names 50 per cent female cabinet

Rwanda has announced that women now make up half of the East African nation's 26-seat cabinet, just two days after a similar move by Ethiopia.

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. Source: AAP

Two days after Ethiopia announced one of the world's few "gender-balanced" cabinets with 50 per cent women, Rwanda has done the same.

On Thursday, President Paul Kagame announced that women now make up half of the slimmed-down, 26-seat cabinet.

Rwanda joins a handful of countries, mostly European, where women make up 50 per cent or more of ministerial positions, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women.

The country has received international recognition for female representation in government, with women making up 61 per cent of parliament members.

Ethiopia's move earlier this week was the latest in a series of dramatic political and economic reforms under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who took office in April.