Lists of office-holders

Foreign Ministers of Somaliland, 1991 to 2026

16 people have been Somaliland's foreign minister, one of them acting, since it declared independence in 1991. The first was Sheikh Yusuf Ali Sheikh Madar. Edna Adan Ismail, from 2003 to 2006, was the first woman in the post. Abdirahman Dahir Adan Bakaal has held it since December 2024.

Last checked 2026-11-12 3 sources Reading time: 3 min

In short

The list follows Rulers.org. Exact dates come from the position-held records in Wikidata where they exist; where the two sources differ, the note says so. (Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records)

Each row below gives the holder's name in English and Somali spelling, dates in office and the source for that row. Dates are from Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records; where sources give different dates, the note says so. How we source: How we check facts.

Foreign ministers of Somaliland

Name In office Note Source
Sheikh Yusuf Ali Sheikh Madar (Sheekh Yuusuf Cali Sheekh Madar) 1991 to 1993 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Osman Abdillahi Jama (Cismaan Cabdillaahi Jaamac) 1993 to 1995 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Hassan Ali Awaleh (Xasan Cali Cawaale) 1995 to 1996 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Suleiman Mahmud Adan (Suleymaan Maxamuud Aadan) 1996 to 1997 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Mahmoud Salah Nur (Maxamuud Saalax Nuur) 1997 to 2001 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Abdihamid Garad Jama (Cabdixamiid Garaad Jaamac) 2001 to 2002 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Mohamed Said Gees (Maxamed Saciid Gees) 2002 to 2003 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Edna Adan Ismail (Edna Aadan Ismaaciil) 25 June 2003 to 26 June 2006 first woman in the post Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Abdillahi Mohamed Duale (Cabdillaahi Maxamed Ducaale) 2006 to 28 July 2010 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Mohamed Abdullahi Omar (Maxamed Cabdillaahi Cumar) 28 July 2010 to 25 June 2013 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Mohamed Bihi Yonis (Maxamed Bixi Yoonis) 25 June 2013 to 26 June 2015 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Saad Ali Shire (Saacad Cali Shire) 28 October 2015 to 10 November 2018 Rulers.org gives 2015 as the start Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Yasin Haji Mohamoud Hiir (Yaasiin Xaaji Maxamuud Hiir) 10 November 2018 to 3 March 2021 resigned to stand for parliament (Somaliland Chronicle, 3 March 2021); Wikidata gives 3 March 2020 Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records, Somaliland Chronicle, 3 March 2021
Liban Yusuf Osman (Liibaan Yuusuf Cismaan) March 2021 to 2021 acting Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Essa Kayd Mohamoud (Ciise Keyd Maxamuud) 2021 to 14 December 2024 Wikidata gives 3 March 2020 as the start Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records
Abdirahman Dahir Adan Bakaal (Cabdiraxmaan Daahir Aadan Bakaal) 14 December 2024 to now Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z, Wikidata, position-held records

Sources

We also publish every row of every office-holder list as one open data file: office-holders.csv.

Sources

  1. Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z · rulers.org
  2. Wikidata, position-held records · wikidata.org
  3. Somaliland Chronicle, 3 March 2021 · somalilandchronicle.com

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