Lists of office-holders

Sultans of the Isaaq, 1750 to 2026

The Guled dynasty has held the title of Sultan of the Isaaq since Guled Abdi took it in about 1750. Daud Mahamed Abdiqadir has been Sultan since 13 February 2021. The title continued under British rule and after independence as a traditional office.

Last checked 2026-11-12 2 sources Reading time: 2 min

In short

The Isaaq Sultanate's modern line, the Guled dynasty, began in the mid-18th century. In the 19th century the Habar Yoonis formed their own sultanate. The area became part of the British protectorate in 1884, then of Somalia in 1960, and of Somaliland from 1991. (World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate)

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, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate; where sources give different dates, the note says so. How we source: How we check facts.

Sultans of the Isaaq (Guled dynasty)

Name In office Note Source
Guled Abdi (Guuleed Cabdi) July 1750 to 1808 founder of the Guled dynasty World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Farah Guled (Faarax Guuleed) 1808 to 1845 World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Hassan Farah (Xasan Faarax) 1845 to 1870 World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Deria Hassan (Diiriye Xasan) 1870 to 1943 World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Abdillahi Deria (Cabdillaahi Diiriye) 1943 to January 1967 World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Rashid Abdillahi (Rashiid Cabdillaahi) January 1967 to 1969 World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Abdiqadir Abdillahi (Cabdiqaadir Cabdillaahi) 1969 to 1975 World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Mahamed Abdiqadir (Maxamed Cabdiqaadir) 1975 to 12 February 2021 died 2021 World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate
Daud Mahamed Abdiqadir (Daa'uud Maxamed Cabdiqaadir) 13 February 2021 to now World Statesmen, Somali traditional states, Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate

Sources

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

Sources

  1. World Statesmen, Somali traditional states · worldstatesmen.org
  2. Wikipedia, Isaaq Sultanate · en.wikipedia.org

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