# Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro (Cabdiraxmaan Cirro)

> Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi 'Irro', born 1956: diplomat in Moscow, Somaliland speaker, Waddani leader and President since December 2024.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/abdirahman-mohamed-abdullahi-irro/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is he?

Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, has been President of Somaliland since 12 December 2024. He is its sixth President ([Wikipedia, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)).

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 career

He was born on 24 April 1956 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)). He first worked for the Settlement Development Agency in several parts of Somalia. From 1981 he served in the foreign service of the [Somali Democratic Republic](/en/history/somali-democratic-republic-1969-1991/), including as first consul at the embassy in Moscow (same source). In 1991 he was named Somalia's acting ambassador to the Soviet Union, and helped Somalis abroad after the war began (same source).

## Life in Finland

In 1995 he moved to Finland to join his family, and later became a Finnish citizen ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)). See [Somalis in Finland](/en/diaspora/finland/).

## Speaker of parliament

In 2005 he was elected to Somaliland's House of Representatives for [Sahil](/en/regions/sahil/), for the [UCID](/en/government/ucid-justice-and-welfare-party/) party ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)). He served as speaker for most of that first elected parliament. He later led the Waddani party. In the 2017 presidential vote he came second, with 41% to 55% for Muse Bihi Abdi (same source).

## President, from 2024

In the vote of 13 November 2024 he won 63.92% against 34.81% for the sitting President, [Muse Bihi Abdi](/en/people/muse-bihi-abdi/) ([The New Arab, November 2024](https://www.newarab.com/news/somaliland-opposition-leader-wins-presidential-election)). Somaliland's Constitutional Court found the vote free and fair, and he was sworn in on 12 December 2024 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)).

On 26 December 2025 Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)). In January 2026 he hosted Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, in Hargeisa, and at the World Economic Forum in Davos he met Israel's President, Isaac Herzog. He has written to the leaders of Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia asking them to recognise Somaliland, and has offered the port of Berbera to investors as a trade hub (all from [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)). The federal government in Mogadishu and the African Union continue to regard Somaliland as part of Somalia. See [Somaliland, 1991 to 2026](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/).

This page records his public role only. It is updated as events change.

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