Public life today
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro (Cabdiraxmaan Cirro)
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro (born 1956), is a former Somali diplomat who has been President of Somaliland since 12 December 2024. He was long the speaker of Somaliland's House of Representatives and led the Waddani party. In his term, on 26 December 2025, Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland.
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi IrroIrro · Cirro
- Lived
- 1956 to today
- Known as one of
- Public life today
- 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?
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, has been President of Somaliland since 12 December 2024. He is its sixth President (Wikipedia, 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.
Early career
He was born on 24 April 1956 (Wikipedia). 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, 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). See Somalis in Finland.
Speaker of parliament
In 2005 he was elected to Somaliland's House of Representatives for Sahil, for the UCID party (Wikipedia). 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 (The New Arab, November 2024). Somaliland's Constitutional Court found the vote free and fair, and he was sworn in on 12 December 2024 (Wikipedia).
On 26 December 2025 Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland (Wikipedia). 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). The federal government in Mogadishu and the African Union continue to regard Somaliland as part of Somalia. See Somaliland, 1991 to 2026.
This page records his public role only. It is updated as events change.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi · en.wikipedia.org
- The New Arab, November 2024 · newarab.com
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi IrroIrro · Cirro
- Lived
- 1956 to today
- Known as one of
- Public life today
- 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
- Hargeysa (Hargeisa) and Woqooyi GalbeedWoqooyi Galbeed is the north-western region that holds Hargeisa (Hargeysa) and the port of Berbera, with about 1 to 1.45 million people.
- Ceerigaabo (Erigavo) and SanaagSanaag is a region on the northern coast with Erigavo (Ceerigaabo) as its capital and about 446,000 people.
Same era
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- 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.
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