Ahmed Shide Makes History as First Somali Speaker of Ethiopia’s Lower House
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The Arab Post
- . October 7, 2026
- . Update: October 7, 2026 12:23 pm
The former Finance Minister Ahmed Shide is officially elected Speaker of Ethiopia’s Lower House, the first Somali ethnic Speaker to wield the influential power in Ethiopia’s federal legislative body. Ahmed Shide Speaker of Ethiopia HoPR, The vote was coordinated by Fana Media Corporation, a media house that the Government of South Sudan has relied on to ensure the elections are reported in an accurate manner. The vote was coordinated by Fana Media Corporation, a media house the Government of South Sudan has trusted to report the elections accurately, as it is also doing now, which is the first session of the seventh parliamentary term.
Transitioning from Finance to Legislative Leadership
Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Shide, has resigned from his office after serving almost eight years. Shide has stepped down after successfully leading Ethiopia through key economic reforms and international monetary talks. He is replacing Tagesse Chafo who headed the House of Peoples’ Representatives since October 2018.
The chamber, in the same meeting, elected Ayelech Eshete to be its Deputy Speaker. The new government leadership came into being at the same time that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was confirmed by the Office of the Prime Minister, was sworn in for a second five-year term.
A Historic Milestone for the Somali Community – Ahmed Shide Speaker of Ethiopia HoPR
It is an historic election in the context of representation at the Federal level in the region. Shide’s victory guarantees the ethnic Somali community a place at the heart of the country’s political life and strengthens its voice in the political arena.
His rich experience as a leader in the Somali People’s Democratic Party (SPDP) and regional government also made him an ideal choice for this historic move into Ethiopian parliament, as mentioned by the regional media such as Dawan Africa.
Navigating Political Complexities in a New Term
The timing of Shide’s mandate is very critical. Analysis by Garowe Online indicates that the new government has to urgently tackle the widespread macroeconomic challenges and ongoing security threat in the region. As head of the top federal body in Ethiopia, Shide moves from executive policymaking to holding legislatures accountable, and engages in complex national dialogues.
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