Ethiopian Somali People’s Democratic Party central committee elected a young and progressive leader to lead the party. Ahmed Shide, the new chairman, will be replacing the notorious Abdi Illey, who had been head of the region and chairman of the party for more than ten years until reportedly resigned this week in connection with the instability in Jijiga and other towns in the region. Ahmed Shide is currently serving as Ethiopian Federal Government Communication Affairs Minister; he was picked by prime minister Abiy Ahmed for that portfolio. His appointment came after three days of meeting of the central committee of the party following the situation in the region in Eastern Ethiopia, according to a report by state media today. More than 29 people were killed in Jijiga, Dire Dawa and Kebri Dehar, among other towns, this week when the loyal forces of Abdi Illey (Somali region special forces) and Youth group organized by the collapsed administration of the regime opened attack on no