The Most Famous

POLITICIANS from Somalia

This page contains a list of the greatest Somali Politicians. The pantheon dataset contains 19,576 Politicians, 29 of which were born in Somalia. This makes Somalia the birth place of the 83rd most number of Politicians behind Cyprus, and Guatemala.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Somali Politicians of all time. This list of famous Somali Politicians is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Somali Politicians.

1. Mohamed Farrah Aidid (1934 - 1996)

With an HPI of 61.76, Mohamed Farrah Aidid is the most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 30 different languages on wikipedia.

Mohamed Farrah Hasan Garad (Somali: Maxamed Faarax Xasan Garaad, 'Caydiid Garaad' ; Arabic: محمد فرح حسن عيديد; 15 December 1934 – 1 August 1996), popularly known as General Aidid or Aideed, was a Somali military officer and warlord. Educated in both Rome and Moscow, he first served as a chief in the Italian colonial police force and later as a brigadier general in the Somali National Army. He would eventually become chairman of the United Somali Congress (USC), and soon after the Somali National Alliance (SNA). Along with other armed opposition groups, he succeeded in toppling President Siad Barre's 22 year old regime following the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991. Aidid possessed aspirations for presidency of the new Somali government, and would begin to seek alliances and unions with other politico-military organizations in order to form a national government. Following the 5 June 1993 attack on the Pakistanis, the SNA—and by extension, Aidid—were blamed for the death of 25 UNOSOM II peacekeepers, causing him to become one of the first "Wanted Men" of the United Nations. After the US-led 12 July 1993 Abdi House raid, which resulted in the death of many eminent members of his Habr Gidr clan, Aidid began deliberately targeting American troops for the first time. President Bill Clinton responded by implementing Operation Gothic Serpent, and deploying Delta Force and Task Force Ranger to capture him. The high American casualty rate of the ensuing Battle of Mogadishu on 3–4 October 1993, led UNOSOM to cease its four month long mission. Warlord General Farah Aidid died on 1 August 1996, during tribal war between his militias and the tribal militias of Warlord Osman Aato.

2. Siad Barre (1919 - 1995)

With an HPI of 60.81, Siad Barre is the 2nd most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 51 different languages.

Mohammed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: 𐒑𐒖𐒄𐒖𐒑𐒗𐒆 𐒈𐒘𐒕𐒛𐒆 𐒁𐒖𐒇𐒇𐒗, Arabic: محمد زياد بري Muhammad Ziād Barīy; c. 6 October 1909 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali military officer, politician and revolutionary who served as the third president of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 January 1991. Barre, the commander of the Somali National Army, became president of Somalia after the 1969 coup d'état that overthrew the Somali Republic following the assassination of President Abdirashid Shermarke. The Supreme Revolutionary Council military junta under Barre reconstituted Somalia as a one-party Marxist–Leninist communist state, renamed the country the Somali Democratic Republic and adopted scientific socialism. Barre spoke three languages, English, Somali and Italian. Barre's early rule was characterised by attempts at widespread modernization, nationalization of banks and industry, promotion of cooperative farms, a new writing system for the Somali language, and anti-tribalism. In 1976, the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party became the country's vanguard party. The following year Barre launched the Ogaden War against Ethiopia's Derg regime, supporting the Western Somali Liberation Front on a platform of Somali nationalism and pan-Somalism. Barre's popularity was highest during the seven months between September 1977 and March 1978 when Barre captured virtually the entirety of the Somali region. It declined from the late-1970s following Somalia's defeat in the Ogaden War, triggering the Somali Rebellion and severing ties with the Soviet Union. Somalia then allied itself with the Western powers and especially the United States for the remainder of the Cold War, although it maintained its Marxist–Leninist regime and also drew close to China. Opposition grew in the 1980s due to his increasingly dictatorial rule, growth of tribal politics, abuses of the National Security Service including the Isaaq genocide, and the sharp decline of Somalia's economy. In 1991, Barre's government collapsed as the Somali Rebellion successfully ejected him from power, leading to the Somali Civil War and a massive power vacuum in its wake. Barre was forced into exile in Nigeria, where he died in 1995 on the way to the hospital after suffering a heart attack.

3. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (b. 1955)

With an HPI of 60.37, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is the 3rd most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 45 different languages.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somali; Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician who has served as the president of Somalia since May 2022, having previously held the office from 2012 to 2017. Hassan was previously a university professor and dean at SIMAD University, which he co-founded. During 2012 he was elected President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Time magazine placed him on an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. During 2014 he controversially welcomed the entry of Ethiopian troops into the African Union mission in the wake of the 2006 invasion. His first administration faced serious criticism for rampant corruption, media restrictions and abuse of power. After losing power in 2017, he became the founder and current chairman of the Union for Peace and Development Party. He was indirectly elected as President of the Federal Republic of Somalia on 15 May 2022.

4. Hassan Gouled Aptidon (1916 - 2006)

With an HPI of 58.76, Hassan Gouled Aptidon is the 4th most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 41 different languages.

Hassan Gouled Aptidon (Somali: Xasan Guuleed Abtidoon; Arabic: حسن جوليد أبتيدون; October 15, 1916 – November 21, 2006) was the first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999.

5. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (1934 - 2012)

With an HPI of 55.41, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is the 5th most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 38 different languages.

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (Somali: Cabdulaahi Yuusuf Axmed, Arabic: عبدالله يوسف أحمد‎; 15 December 1934 – 23 March 2012) was a Somali politician and former military officer. He was one of the founders of the rebel Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), as well as the Puntland state of Somalia, the latter of which he served as the first president. In 2004, Yusuf also helped establish the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which he led as President of Somalia from 2004 until 2008. Yusuf was a career soldier in the Somali National Army, participating in the 1964 Border War and Ogaden War against Ethiopia. After Somalia's defeat in the Ogaden War in 1978, he led a failed coup against President Siad Barre, marking the start of the Somali rebellion. Following the coup's failure, Yusuf established the Somali Salvation Democratic Front in Ethiopia and began fighting alongside Ethiopian forces against the Somali army. During the 1982 Ethiopian-Somali War, he led SSDF forces. Frustrated by the operation's failure and the SSDF's surrender to the Somali government, the Ethiopians jailed Yusuf until the Derg regime collapsed in 1991. After his release, Yusuf returned to his home region and helped establish the Puntland government in 1998. He later joined an Ethiopian-backed coalition of warlords opposing the Somali Transitional National Government (TNG) formed in 2000. During the Puntland crisis (2001–2003) he had a violent power struggle against Jama Ali Jama over regional leadership. Yusuf attempted to extend his term after it expired, sparking a political crisis and the election of a new Puntland president, which Yusuf rejected. In May 2002, with Ethiopian military assistance, Yusuf ousted Jama after accusing him of ties to terrorism. During the conflict he was responsible for ordering the assassinations of civic leaders in Puntland such as Sultan Hurre. In 2004, Yusuf became president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). He received Ethiopia's backing and approval, in exchange for dropping Somalia's long-standing claim to the Ogaden region. Despite widespread opposition within the TFG and without cabinet or parliamentary approval, Yusuf controversially requested Ethiopian troops to support his administration against the Islamic Courts Union during 2006. By the end of the Ethiopian military occupation in December 2008, much of the country had fallen to the insurgency and Yusuf was threatened with international sanctions over his refusal to support national reconciliation. The TFG parliament moved to impeach Yusuf after accusing him of being a dictator. On 24 December 2008, he resigned from the presidency, leading to the dissolution of his government. After he resigned he was given political asylum in Yemen. Yusuf died in the United Arab Emirates on 23 March 2012.

6. Muse Bihi Abdi (b. 1948)

With an HPI of 55.08, Muse Bihi Abdi is the 6th most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Musa Bihi Abdi (Somali: Muuse Biixi Cabdi, Arabic: موسى بيحي عبدي; born 16 June 1948) is a Somaliland politician and former military officer who served as the 5th President of Somaliland from 2017 to 2024. During the 1970s, he served as a pilot in the Somali Air Force under the Siad Barre administration. In 2010, Bihi was appointed the chairman of the ruling Kulmiye party in Somaliland. In November 2015, Bihi was selected as the party's Presidential Candidate at the 5th annual central committee convention. On 21 November 2017 Muse was announced the winner of the 2017 presidential election, and officially became the President of Somaliland on 13 December 2017. He lost his reelection bid to Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in the 2024 presidential election.

7. Aden Adde (1908 - 2007)

With an HPI of 55.08, Aden Adde is the 7th most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 42 different languages.

Aden Abdulle Osman Da’ar (Somali: Aadan Cabdulle Cismaan Dacar, Arabic: آدم عبد الله عثمان دعر) (9 December 1908 – 8 June 2007), popularly known as Aden Adde, was a Somali politician who served as the first president of the Somali Republic from 1 July 1960 to 6 July 1967. He had previously served in the Somali Youth League in 1944. In 1946, he was named Secretary of the party's section in Beledweyne, Somalia. In 1951, the Mudug Regional Council appointed him for the Regional Council, and two years later, he became Vice President of the Regional Council. From 1954 until 1956, he was the President of the Somali Youth League. He was re-elected in May 1958, and he continued to hold this position simultaneously along with that of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly until 1960. Osman Daar was born in Beledweyne, Somalia. He studied at government schools, and worked as a community organizer. Somalia was colonized by the Italian government from 1889 to 1941. From 1929 to 1941, he served in the Italian Colonial Administration advocating for Somalia's independence from colonization. He was a proponent for the unity of all Somalis. In 1960, Osman Daar garnered national attention, and won the favor of the Somali people. He was formally and democratically elected as the first president of Somalia on 1 July 1960, on which date the United Nations recognised Somalia's independence, and subsequently united with the former British protectorate of British Somaliland, which had already obtained its independence on 26 June 1960. His administration was focused on dismantling the legacy of colonialism and fostering unity among the Somali people.

8. Nur Hassan Hussein (1937 - 2020)

With an HPI of 54.61, Nur Hassan Hussein is the 8th most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Nur Hassan Hussein (Somali: Nuur Xasan Xuseen Cadde, Arabic: نور حسن حسين‎; 2 February 1938 – 1 April 2020), popularly known as Nur Adde, was a Somali politician, who served as Prime Minister of Somalia from November 2007 to February 2009. He was from Mogadishu and part of the Abgaal sub-clan of the Hawiye.

9. Abdirashid Shermarke (1919 - 1969)

With an HPI of 52.93, Abdirashid Shermarke is the 9th most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 28 different languages.

Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (Somali: Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke, Arabic: عبد الرشيد علي شارماركي) (8 June 1919 – 15 October 1969), also known as Abdirashid Shermarke, was Prime Minister of Somali Republic from 12 July 1960, to 14 June 1964, and President of Somali Republic from 6 July 1967, until his assassination on October 15, 1969. He was the father of Somali Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke.

10. Ali Mahdi Muhammad (1939 - 2021)

With an HPI of 52.35, Ali Mahdi Muhammad is the 10th most famous Somali Politician. His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Ali Mahdi Muhammad (Somali: Cali Mahdi Maxamed, Arabic: علي مهدي محمد) (1 January 1939 – 10 March 2021) was a Somali entrepreneur and politician. He served as President of Somalia from 26 January 1991 to 27 August 1993. The Cairo Agreement in December 1997 designated Ali Mahdi as president once again, a position he held until being succeeded by Abdiqasim Salad in the year 2000. Muhammad rose to power after a coalition of armed opposition groups, including his own United Somali Congress, deposed longtime dictator Siad Barre. However, Muhammad was not able to exert his authority beyond parts of the capital, and instead vied for power with other faction leaders in the southern half of the country and with autonomous subnational entities in the north.

People

Pantheon has 33 people classified as Somali politicians born between 1908 and 1982. Of these 33, 16 (48.48%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Somali politicians include Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Muse Bihi Abdi, and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. The most famous deceased Somali politicians include Mohamed Farrah Aidid, Siad Barre, and Hassan Gouled Aptidon. As of April 2024, 5 new Somali politicians have been added to Pantheon including Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur, Hamza Abdi Barre, and Edna Adan Ismail.