# Presidents of Somaliland, 1991 to 2026

> Every holder of the office, with dates and a source on each row: Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur, Dahir Riyale Kahin, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, Muse Bihi Abdi, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/presidents-of-somaliland/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

The Republic of Somaliland was proclaimed in [Burco](/en/regions/togdheer/) on 18 May 1991 and its first president took office on 28 May 1991. Before that, the [State of Somaliland](/en/states/state-of-somaliland-1960/) existed for five days, from 26 June to 1 July 1960, with Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal as its Prime Minister. Somaliland was recognised by Israel on 26 December 2025; most states and the African Union regard it as part of Somalia. ([World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland))

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 [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland); where sources give different dates, the note says so. How we source: [How we check facts](/en/about/how-we-check-facts/).

## State of Somaliland, 26 June to 1 July 1960

| Name | In office | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal](/en/people/mohamed-haji-ibrahim-egal/) (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal) | 26 June 1960 to 1 July 1960 | Prime Minister | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland) |

## Republic of Somaliland, since 1991

| Name | In office | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur](/en/people/abdirahman-ahmed-ali-tuur/) (Cabdiraxmaan Axmed Cali Tuur) | 28 May 1991 to 16 May 1993 | Somali National Movement | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland) |
| [Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal](/en/people/mohamed-haji-ibrahim-egal/) (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal) | 16 May 1993 to 3 May 2002 | died in office | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland) |
| [Dahir Riyale Kahin](/en/people/dahir-riyale-kahin/) (Daahir Rayaale Kaahin) | 3 May 2002 to 27 July 2010 | UDUB | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland) |
| [Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo](/en/people/ahmed-mohamed-mohamoud-silanyo/) (Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud Siilaanyo) | 27 July 2010 to 14 December 2017 | Kulmiye; Wikipedia gives 13 December 2017 as the end date | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland) |
| [Muse Bihi Abdi](/en/people/muse-bihi-abdi/) (Muuse Biixi Cabdi) | 14 December 2017 to 12 December 2024 | Kulmiye; Wikipedia gives 13 December 2017 to 13 December 2024 | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland) |
| [Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro](/en/people/abdirahman-mohamed-abdullahi-irro/) (Cabdiraxmaan Maxamed Cabdillaahi Cirro) | 12 December 2024 to now | Waddani; Wikipedia gives 13 December 2024 as the start date | [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html), [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland) |

## Related pages

- [Somaliland, 1991 to 2026](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/)
- [Somaliland's institutions](/en/institutions/somaliland-institutions/)
- [Presidents of Somalia](/en/people/presidents-of-somalia/)

## Sources

- [World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html)
- [Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_Somaliland)

We also publish every row of every office-holder list as one open data file: [office-holders.csv](/data/institutions/office-holders.csv).

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