The Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives has elected Ahmed Shide as its Speaker, making him the first Somali politician to lead the lower house of Ethiopia’s federal parliament.
Shide was elected during the opening session of Ethiopia’s seventh parliament, which began following the country’s general election held on June 1, 2026.
Parliament also reappointed Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister, marking the beginning of a new political phase for the country.
Shide, who comes from Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, has held several senior positions in the federal government during a long political career.
Before becoming Speaker, he served as Minister of Finance and was regarded as one of the senior figures in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.
His election is politically significant because the House of Peoples’ Representatives is Ethiopia’s lower chamber and the country’s main federal legislative body.
It plays a central role in passing laws, approving the federal budget and overseeing the activities of the government.
Although Shide is the first Somali to become Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, he is not the first Ethiopian Somali to lead one of the country’s two parliamentary chambers.
In 2020, Adan Farah Ibrahim was elected President of the House of Federation, Ethiopia’s upper chamber.
The distinction between the two positions is significant.
The House of Federation serves as the upper house and has constitutional responsibilities, including matters related to the federal system and relations among Ethiopia’s regions, while the House of Peoples’ Representatives is the principal legislative chamber responsible for federal lawmaking and parliamentary oversight.
Shide assumes the speakership at a challenging time for Ethiopia, which continues to face political and security pressures in several parts of the country.
The situation in northern Ethiopia, including areas around Tigray, remains an important concern, alongside wider political and security challenges facing the federal government.
As Speaker, Shide will be responsible for presiding over parliamentary sessions, maintaining order within the chamber and facilitating legislative debates.
He is also expected to help strengthen the parliament’s role as a forum representing Ethiopia’s diverse ethnic groups and regional interests.
His election has particular significance for Ethiopia’s Somali community, as it marks the first time a Somali politician has been chosen to head the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
The position places Shide at the helm of one of the country’s most influential federal institutions at a time when Ethiopia is entering a new political period.
The appointment is therefore being viewed as a historic development for Ethiopian Somalis and a notable moment in the country’s federal political system.