The Ethiopian-Somali People’s Democratic Party (ESPDP) elected the minister of government communications affairs office Ahmed Shide, as chairman, replacing Abdi Mohamoud Omar (Abdi Iley), who was removed from the region’s presidency role few days ago.
Completing its three day party meeting and deep evaluation session, ESPDP has chosen to replace Abdi Iley with Ahmed Shide, the state-linked Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported.
Abdi Iley was a controversial figure who has faced multiple accusations of human rights abuses. The Somali region’s former finance and economic development head Ahmed Abdi Mohamed “Ilkacase” has replaced him as a president. In earlier reports, it was said that Abdi Iley would remain chairperson of the ESPDP and would keep his residence in Jijiga, which have proved to be untrue. There are demands that he stands trial, it is unclear whether that would happen or not.
Ahmed Shide was appointed as communication affairs minister on April 2018 by Abiy Ahmed. Before that, he served as transport minister from November 2016 to April 2018. He was also state minister of finance and economic development of Ethiopia from 2009 to 2016.
Ahmed has earned post graduate diploma in rural resource management and conflict resolution from Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands and master’s degree in public participation, development and social progress from Salex University of Briton, UK.
He has served in the Somali region in various roles, such as chairman of pastoral affairs committee of from March 2003 to September 2004, head of the president office from September 2004 to October 2005, and head of civil service improvement bureau from October 2005 to September 2006.
