Leaders and statesmen
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke)
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (1919–1969) was the first Prime Minister of the Somali Republic, from 1960 to 1964, and its second President, from 1967 until he was killed in Laascaanood on 15 October 1969. Born in Xarardheere, he studied political science in Rome and was a leader of the Somali Youth League.
Abdirashid Ali ShermarkeAbdirashid Shermarke · Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke
- Lived
- 1919 to 1969
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991
- Sources
- 3 sources
Who was he?
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was the first Prime Minister of the Somali Republic, 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).
Early life and study
He was born in 1919 at Xarardheere (Harardhere) in the Mudug region (Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Abdirashid Ali Shermarke"). He came from a chiefly family of Hobyo (Obbia) (Castagno 1975). 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).
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 (Castagno 1975). He joined the Somali Youth League in 1943, the year it was founded (Wikipedia).
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).
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). When the Somali Republic was formed on 1 July 1960, President Aden Abdulle Osman named him Prime Minister (Wikipedia). He travelled widely and followed a non-aligned foreign policy.
President, 1967 to 1969
In 1967 parliament elected him President over Aden Abdulle Osman, who handed over peacefully. He was sworn in on 6 July 1967 (Wikipedia). 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). His Prime Minister was 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). Six days later, on 21 October 1969, the army took power without a fight (Wikipedia). 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).
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, later also served as Prime Minister (Wikipedia).
Sources
Abdirashid Ali ShermarkeAbdirashid Shermarke · Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke
- Lived
- 1919 to 1969
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991
- Sources
- 3 sources
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