Ethiopian politics: Who is new Parliamentary Speaker Shide?

Ethiopian politician Ahmed Shide Mohamed has assumed his new role as the Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives after being unanimously elected by MPs. This comes as the seventh parliamentary term started on 5 October 2026.

Shide, who represents the Chereti constituency in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, becomes the first politician od Somali origin to serve as speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, according to the information provided by Ethiopian parliamentary sources.

He was formally sworn in during the inaugural proceedings of the new House, in a ceremony attended by President Taye Atske-Selassie. One of his first duties was the swearing-in of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for another five-year term.

Shide most recently served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics. He previously held several senior government positions, including Minister of Finance, Minister of Transport and Minister of Government Communication Affairs.

He served as Minister of Finance from October 2018 before moving to the transport and logistics portfolio.

Not new to governance

Before joining the cabinet, Shide spent more than eight years as a state minister at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, where he was involved in Ethiopia’s economic cooperation, regional development and integration agenda.

During his tenure in government, the 59-year-old played a role in economic reform programmes aimed at increasing private-sector participation, improving economic efficiency and supporting broader economic development.

His long record in Ethiopia’s economic policymaking has also brought him recognition as one of Africa’s influential finance ministers.

In 2025, Shide was recognised among the 100 Reputable Africans, highlighting his profile in African public service and economic policymaking.

World Bank role

Shide has also held a number of positions at regional-state level, including senior roles in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State.

He has served as a government spokesman and has been involved in regional and international development initiatives. He was also a member of the World Bank Group’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development.

Shide represents the Chereti constituency in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. He is a member of the ruling Prosperity Party, which forms the federal government.

His election to the speakership gives a prominent Somali-origin politician a senior institutional role at the federal parliamentary level as Ethiopia begins its seventh parliamentary term.

Shide holds a Master of Arts in Participation, Development and Social Change from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Managing Rural Resources and Resource Conflicts from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, the Netherlands, and an MBA from the University of Greenwich in London.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the Ethiopian Civil Service College in Addis Ababa.

Upper chamber’s leadership

The upper chamber, Ethiopia’s House of Federation, also elected its leadership as the seventh parliamentary term began.

Muferihat Kamil was elected Speaker of the House of Federation, while Desta Ledamo was elected Deputy Speaker.

The elections took place during the House’s inaugural session for the first working year of the new parliamentary term.

Muferihat most recently served as Minister of Labour and Skills Development, while Desta previously served as Chief Administrator of the Sidama Regional State.

The appointments complete the initial parliamentary leadership arrangements as Ethiopia begins the seventh parliamentary term and proceeds with the formation of the new Medemer Government.

The new parliamentary leadership is expected to oversee the legislative work of the two federal chambers during the first working year of the seventh parliamentary term.