Leaders and statesmen
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed (Cabdiweli Sheekh Axmed)
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed (born 1959 in Bardera) is a Somali economist who was Prime Minister of Somalia from December 2013 to December 2014. Before that he worked for decades in livestock trade, central banking and regional development bodies. His government delivered a national work plan, the first EU aid programme for Somalia in 25 years, and the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Abdiweli Sheikh AhmedCabdiweli Sheekh Axmed · Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed
- Lived
- 1959 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- 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?
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed is a Somali economist and politician (Wikipedia, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed). He was Prime Minister of Somalia from December 2013 to December 2014 (same source). This page covers his public role and takes no side in party politics.
Early life and study
He was born in 1959 in Bardera, in the Gedo region (Wikipedia). His family is Marehan (Darod) (same source). He earned a degree in economics at the Somali National University in Mogadishu (same source). He later took a master's degree in economics at the University of Ottawa (same source).
Livestock, banking and development
From 1984 to 1990 he was director-general of the Livestock Marketing and Health Agency (Wikipedia). Livestock was then Somalia's main export, so the post touched much of the economy (same source). In 1991 he moved to Canada, where he took citizenship (same source). From 1991 to 1998 he ran a firm called MISK Enterprises (same source). He then worked at the Bank of Canada from 1998 to 2003 (same source). See Somalis in Ottawa.
He moved to the African Union's animal resources office, AU-IBAR, from 2003 to 2006 (Wikipedia). He then worked for the trade bloc COMESA from 2007 to 2009 (same source). From 2010 to 2013 he was at the Islamic Development Bank (same source).
Prime minister
On 12 December 2013 President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud named him prime minister (Al Jazeera, 12 December 2013). The president said: "After a long consultations, I have taken the decision to name Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed as prime minister" (same source). He followed Abdi Farah Shirdon, who had lost a confidence vote (same source). Al Jazeera noted he was the second prime minister in 14 months (same source). Parliament approved him on 21 December 2013 by 239 of 243 votes (Wikipedia).
Work in office
His cabinet delivered a 2014 Work Plan tied to the "Vision 2016" goals for elections and a constitution (Wikipedia). It agreed the first European Union National Indicative Programme for Somalia in 25 years (same source). The government ratified several International Labour Organization conventions (same source). It also ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (same source). See the timeline from 2012 to 2026.
End of term and later
In December 2014 parliament passed a vote of no confidence (Wikipedia). Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke became the next prime minister (same source). From February 2015 he chaired a new party, the Somali Forum for Unity and Democracy (same source).
In short
An economist who was Prime Minister from December 2013 to December 2014.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed · en.wikipedia.org
- Al Jazeera, 12 December 2013 · aljazeera.com
Abdiweli Sheikh AhmedCabdiweli Sheekh Axmed · Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed
- Lived
- 1959 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- 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
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- 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.
Keep reading
- Presidents of Somalia, 1960 to 2026Every president and acting president of Somalia from 1960 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
- Prime Ministers of Somalia, 1956 to 2026Every Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister of Somalia from 1956 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
- Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Axmed Gurey)Imam Ahmad Gurey (about 1506–1543): leader of Adal in the war with Ethiopia, his life, the debate on his origin and how he is remembered.
- Aden Abdulle Osman (Aadan Cabdulle Cismaan, Aden Adde)Aden Adde (1908–2007), first President of the Somali Republic: his life, the Somali Youth League, 1960 and the peaceful handover of 1967.
- 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.
- Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal)Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (1928–2002): Prime Minister in 1960 and 1967–69, President of Somaliland 1993–2002. His life and public roles.