# 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.

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Last checked: 2026-11-12
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## Who was he?

Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was the first Prime Minister of the [Somali Republic](/en/states/somali-republic-1960-1969/), from 12 July 1960 to 14 June 1964. He was its second President, from 6 July 1967 until his death on 15 October 1969 ([Wikipedia, Abdirashid Shermarke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirashid_Shermarke)).

## Early life and study

He was born in 1919 at [Xarardheere](/en/regions/harardhere/) (Harardhere) in the [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) region ([Castagno, *Historical Dictionary of Somalia*, 1975, "Abdirashid Ali Shermarke"](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). He came from a chiefly family of Hobyo (Obbia) ([Castagno 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). Wikipedia records that his father's family was Majeerteen (Darood) and his mother's Habar Gidir (Hawiye), and that his mother raised him in Mogadishu ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirashid_Shermarke)).

He went to Quranic school, then moved to Mogadishu in 1932 and entered elementary school. He worked as a clerk in the Italian administration and then under the [British Military Administration](/en/history/british-military-administration-1941-1950/) ([Castagno 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). He joined the [Somali Youth League](/en/history/somali-youth-league/) in 1943, the year it was founded ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirashid_Shermarke)).

During the trusteeship he studied at the School of Politics and Administration and the Higher Institute of Law and Economics in Mogadishu. He then went to the University of Rome and graduated with honours in political science in 1958 ([Castagno 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)).

## Prime Minister, 1960 to 1964

He joined the Youth League's central committee in 1950. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1959, his first political post ([Castagno 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). When the Somali Republic was formed on 1 July 1960, President Aden Abdulle Osman named him Prime Minister ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirashid_Shermarke)). He travelled widely and followed a non-aligned foreign policy.

## President, 1967 to 1969

In 1967 parliament elected him President over [Aden Abdulle Osman](/en/people/aden-abdulle-osman/), who handed over peacefully. He was sworn in on 6 July 1967 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirashid_Shermarke)). He was known as a strong voice for Somalis living outside the Republic. As President he moved towards peaceful relations with neighbouring countries ([Castagno 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). His Prime Minister was [Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal](/en/people/mohamed-haji-ibrahim-egal/).

## His death

On 15 October 1969, on an official visit to Laascaanood, he was shot by one of his own bodyguards ([Castagno 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). Six days later, on 21 October 1969, the army took power without a fight ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirashid_Shermarke)). Historians still debate the motive. One study looks at personal, Cold War and political explanations ([Ingiriis, "Who Assassinated the Somali President in October 1969?", *African Security* 10:2, 2017](https://doi.org/10.1080/19392206.2017.1305861)).

## In short

A Somali Youth League leader who served as Prime Minister from 1960 to 1964 and President from 1967 to 1969. His son, [Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke](/en/people/omar-abdirashid-sharmarke/), later also served as Prime Minister ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirashid_Shermarke)).

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