Ahmed Shide becomes the first Somali to lead the Ethiopian parliament

Addis Ababa (Caasimada Online) – Ahmed Shide has been elected as the Chairman of the House of Peoples' Representatives of Ethiopia, becoming the first Somali to hold the leadership position of the lower house of the Federal Parliament of Ethiopia.

The first session of the 7th Parliament elected Ahmed Shide following the general elections that took place on June 1, 2026. In the same session, Abiy Ahmed was also appointed again as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

Ahmed Shide, who hails from the Somali Region of Ethiopia, has long served in the federal government, holding various senior positions. His last position was the Minister of Finance of Ethiopia.

According to the authority of the institution he now leads, the House of Peoples' Representatives, he has an important role in federal legislation and oversight of government agencies.

However, Ahmed Shide's position will not be the first time a Somali politician has led one of the two houses of the Ethiopian parliament. Aadan Farah Ibrahim was elected as the Chairman of the Federal Council in 2020, which is the upper house of the country's parliament.

The distinction is that Ahmed Shide is the first Somali to be elected as the Chairman of the House of Peoples' Representatives, which is the lower house and one of the most important legislative bodies in Ethiopia.

This new position comes at a time when Ethiopia is facing difficult political and security situations, with reports of tensions and clashes in parts of the northern country, particularly in Tigray and surrounding areas.

The new chairman will now lead a council composed of representatives from various ethnic groups and regions of Ethiopia, making his new position one of the highest-ranking officials in the country's federal institutions.