The Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives elected Ahmed Shide as its Speaker today, making him the first Somali to lead the lower house of the Ethiopian Federal Parliament.
Ahmed Shide’s election took place during the inaugural session of Ethiopia’s 7th Parliament, as the country enters a new political phase following the general election held on June 1, 2026. The House also reappointed Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister today.
Ahmed Shide, who hails from the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia, has a long history of service within the federal government, having held various high-ranking positions—most recently as Minister of Finance. His election means that a Somali politician will now lead the chamber responsible for federal legislation and the oversight of government institutions.
However, Ahmed Shide is not the first Somali to lead one of the two houses of the Ethiopian Parliament. In 2020, Adan Farah Ibrahim was elected Speaker of the House of Federation, the upper house of the Ethiopian Parliament. The distinction lies in the fact that Ahmed Shide has become the first Somali to serve as Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives—the lower house and primary federal legislative body of Ethiopia.
His election comes at a time when Ethiopia is grappling with political and security challenges, amidst reports of tensions and fresh conflicts in parts of the country’s north, particularly in Tigray and adjacent regions.
With this appointment, Ahmed Shide joins the top leadership of Ethiopia’s federal institutions, assuming the role of presiding over a parliament composed of representatives from the country’s diverse ethnic groups and regions.
