Leaders and statesmen
Abdi Farah Shirdon (Cabdi Faarax Shirdoon)
Abdi Farah Shirdon (born 1958 in Dhuusamareeb) is a Somali economist and businessman who was Prime Minister of Somalia from October 2012 to December 2013. He formed a ten-member cabinet that named Somalia's first woman foreign minister, launched a human rights task force and a public finance policy, and helped set up the New Deal Compact with international partners.
Abdi Farah ShirdonCabdi Faarax Shirdoon · Abdi Farah Saaid
- Lived
- 1958 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who is he?
Abdi Farah Shirdon is a Somali businessman, economist and politician (Wikipedia, Abdi Farah Shirdon). He was Prime Minister of Somalia from October 2012 to December 2013 (same source). This page covers his public role and takes no side in party politics.
Early life and study
He was born in Dhuusamareeb in 1958 (Wikipedia). His family is Marehan (Darod) (same source). He earned a degree in economics with honours at the Somali National University in 1983 (same source). He later took a master's degree in diplomatic studies at Oxford (same source).
Economist and businessman
From 1983 to 1985 he worked as an economist in the ministries of finance and agriculture (Wikipedia). He then founded his own company (same source). After 1991 he moved to Nairobi and ran an import-export firm (same source). In 2012 he chaired the Rajo Forum, a civil society group he co-founded (same source). See Somalis in Kenya.
Prime minister
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud named him prime minister on 6 October 2012 (Wikipedia). Parliament approved him on 17 October by 215 of 275 votes (same source). On 4 November he named a cabinet of only ten members (Al Jazeera, 5 November 2012). It included Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam, the first woman foreign minister (same source).
Work in office
In February 2013 he launched an independent task force on human rights (Wikipedia). The same month he toured cities to hear people's priorities for public services (same source). In May 2013 his government launched a Public Finance Management Policy to make public money more open (same source). It also proposed a national disaster management agency (same source). See the timeline from 2012 to 2026.
End of term
On 2 December 2013 parliament passed a vote of no confidence, 184 to 65 (Wikipedia). He accepted the decision and asked citizens to support the next government (same source). The UN envoy Nicholas Kay praised his role in the New Deal Compact with international partners (same source).
Later
In April 2025 he returned to Mogadishu and announced a run for the presidency (Wikipedia).
In short
Prime Minister from October 2012 to December 2013, with a ten-member cabinet that named Somalia's first woman foreign minister.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Abdi Farah Shirdon · en.wikipedia.org
- Al Jazeera, 5 November 2012 · aljazeera.com
Abdi Farah ShirdonCabdi Faarax Shirdoon · Abdi Farah Saaid
- Lived
- 1958 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
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Where this matters
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Presidents of Somalia, 1960 to 2026Every president and acting president of Somalia from 1960 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
- Prime Ministers of Somalia, 1956 to 2026Every Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister of Somalia from 1956 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
- Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Axmed Gurey)Imam Ahmad Gurey (about 1506–1543): leader of Adal in the war with Ethiopia, his life, the debate on his origin and how he is remembered.
- Aden Abdulle Osman (Aadan Cabdulle Cismaan, Aden Adde)Aden Adde (1908–2007), first President of the Somali Republic: his life, the Somali Youth League, 1960 and the peaceful handover of 1967.
- Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke)Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (1919–1969): first Prime Minister and second President of the Somali Republic, his life and his death in 1969.
- Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal)Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (1928–2002): Prime Minister in 1960 and 1967–69, President of Somaliland 1993–2002. His life and public roles.