The freedom movement, 1895 to 1960
Abdullahi Issa Mohamud (Cabdullaahi Ciise Maxamuud)
Abdullahi Issa Mohamud (1921–1988) was the first Somali head of government. He led the government of the trust territory of Somalia from 1956 to 1960. Before that he was secretary-general of the Somali Youth League and argued for Somali independence at the United Nations.
Abdullahi Issa MohamudAbdullahi Issa · Cabdullaahi Ciise
- Lived
- 1921 to 1988
- Known as one of
- The freedom movement, 1895 to 1960
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who was he?
Abdullahi Issa Mohamud was the first Somali to lead a Somali government. He was Prime Minister of the trust territory of Somalia, under Italian administration and UN oversight, from 1956 to 1960 (Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Abdullahi Issa Mohamud"). Before that he was the main voice of the Somali Youth League to the world.
Early life
Sources differ on where he was born. Wikipedia says he was born in 1921 in Afgooye (Wikipedia, Abdullahi Issa). Castagno's dictionary says he was born in 1922 in the Mudug region (Castagno 1975). His nickname was "Bidaar".
He went to a Quranic school and a primary school in Mogadishu. At sixteen he moved to Marka and worked as a postal clerk from 1939 to 1941 (Wikipedia). He then worked in the Department of Economic Affairs in Mogadishu, and after 1941 went into business (Castagno 1975).
The voice of the Youth League
He joined the Somali Youth League in its early years. He was its secretary-general from 1947 to 1954 (Castagno 1975). He spoke for the League before the Four-Power Commission that visited in 1948, and then at the United Nations in the late 1940s and early 1950s (Castagno 1975). From 1950 to 1954 he represented the League at the UN Trusteeship Council (Wikipedia).
This work mattered. The UN decided in 1949 that Italian rule would last only ten years, ending in independence in 1960. See UN trusteeship, 1950 to 1960.
Prime Minister, 1956 to 1960
After the 1956 elections, he was asked to form the first Somali government in the territory (Wikipedia). He was confirmed again after the 1959 elections. At times he also held the foreign affairs, interior and justice posts (same source). His government prepared the handover to full independence on 1 July 1960.
After independence
In the governments after 1960 he served as Foreign Minister and took part in UN and African meetings (Wikipedia). In 1964 he was elected to the National Assembly for Beledweyne (same source).
After the army took power in October 1969, he was held in detention until 1973 (Castagno 1975). In 1974 the new government named him ambassador to Sweden. He held that post until early 1983 and then retired (Wikipedia).
He spent his last years in Rome and died there in March 1988. He was brought home to Mogadishu for burial (same source).
In short
The first Somali head of government, Prime Minister of the trust territory from 1956 to 1960.
Sources
- Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Abdullahi Issa Mohamud" · archive.org
- Wikipedia, Abdullahi Issa · en.wikipedia.org
Abdullahi Issa MohamudAbdullahi Issa · Cabdullaahi Ciise
- Lived
- 1921 to 1988
- Known as one of
- The freedom movement, 1895 to 1960
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991
- Sources
- 2 sources
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Where this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Beledweyne (Belet Weyne) and HiiraanHiiraan is a region of Hirshabelle State on the Shabelle river, with Beledweyne as its capital and about 505,000 to 598,000 people.
Same era
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