Former finance minister makes history as first Somali speaker of Ethiopia’s Lower House

Addis Ababa (HOL) — Former Finance Minister Ahmed Shide was elected speaker of Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives on Monday, becoming the first ethnic Somali to lead the country’s lower chamber of parliament.

Lawmakers elected Shide unanimously during the opening session of Ethiopia’s seventh parliament, and he was sworn in the same day. He succeeds Tagesse Chafo, who had served as speaker since 2018.

Shide is the first ethnic Somali to serve as speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Ethiopia’s principal federal legislative chamber. He is not, however, the first Somali to lead one of the country’s two houses of parliament.

Aden Farah, a former vice president of the Somali Regional State, was elected speaker of the House of Federation, Ethiopia’s upper chamber, in June 2020 and served until October 2021.

Shide’s election moves one of Ethiopia’s most prominent Somali politicians from economic policymaking into the leadership of the federal legislature.

He had served as finance minister since October 2018, after previously holding senior posts including transport minister, government communications minister and state minister at the former Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

During his tenure at the Finance Ministry, Shide was closely involved in Ethiopia’s economic reform program as the government confronted high inflation, shortages of foreign currency, debt pressures and the economic impact of years of conflict.

His election also gives Ethiopia’s Somali community one of its most senior positions in the federal political system.

Shide previously represented the Somali Regional State in federal politics and has also held senior political positions in the region. He was elected to parliament from a constituency in the Somali region.

The new parliament was formed following Ethiopia’s June 1 general election.

More than 54 million Ethiopians were registered to vote, according to the National Election Board of Ethiopia. The ruling Prosperity Party won 438 seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives, securing a large majority and the constitutional mandate to form the federal government.

Voting did not take place in all constituencies because of insecurity and other disruptions, including in parts of Tigray, Amhara and Oromia.