# Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur (Cabdiraxmaan Axmed Cali Tuur)

> Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur (1931–2003): administrator, diplomat, SNM chairman and first President of Somaliland, 1991–1993.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/abdirahman-ahmed-ali-tuur/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who was he?

Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur was the first President of Somaliland. He took office on 7 June 1991, a few weeks after Somaliland declared itself a republic, and served until 1993 ([Wikipedia, President of Somaliland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Somaliland)). Before that he was a senior civil servant and diplomat of the [Somali Republic](/en/states/somali-republic-1960-1969/), and in 1990 and 1991 chairman of the Somali National Movement (SNM) ([Wikipedia, Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Ahmed_Ali_Tuur)).

Somaliland declared its independence in 1991. Israel recognised it on 26 December 2025; most states and the African Union regard it as part of Somalia. See [Somaliland, 1991 to 2026](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/).

## Early life and study

He was born on 6 November 1931 in [Burao](/en/regions/togdheer/), in what was then the [British Somaliland Protectorate](/en/history/british-somaliland-1884-1960/). His family is Habar Yoonis (Isaaq) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Ahmed_Ali_Tuur)). He was among the top students of the first intermediate school in the protectorate. In 1948 he won a scholarship to the Hantoob Secondary School in [Sudan](/en/diaspora/sudan/), where his classmates included future Sudanese leaders. He then studied at the University of Exeter in England (same source).

## Administrator and diplomat

He came home and joined the administration as an officer in [Boorama](/en/regions/awdal/) in 1956. He became District Commissioner there in 1959 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Ahmed_Ali_Tuur)). After independence he was Governor of the Eastern Region at Burao from 1961, and of the Western Region at Hargeisa from 1964. That year he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served in several diplomatic posts (same source).

## The SNM and 1991

The SNM was formed in [London](/en/diaspora/london/) in 1981 to oppose the government of [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) ([Library of Congress, *Somalia: A Country Study*, 1992](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/30.htm)). Tuur became its chairman in 1990. On 18 May 1991, under his leadership, the north-west declared itself independent as Somaliland ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Ahmed_Ali_Tuur)).

## After the presidency

In 1993 [Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal](/en/people/mohamed-haji-ibrahim-egal/) succeeded him as President ([Wikipedia, Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Haji_Ibrahim_Egal)). In 1994 Tuur gave up the call for separation and began to speak publicly for reconciliation with the rest of Somalia ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Ahmed_Ali_Tuur)).

He died on 8 November 2003, aged 72, and was buried in Burao (same source).

## In short

An administrator and diplomat of the Somali Republic, and the first president of Somaliland from 1991 to 1993.

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