Leaders and statesmen
Abdulrahim Abby Farah (Cabdiraxiim Abby Faarax)
Abdulrahim Abby Farah (1919–2018) was a Somali diplomat born in Barry, Wales. He was Somalia's first ambassador to Ethiopia, its Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1965 to 1972, and chair of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid. He then served the UN as Assistant Secretary-General from 1973 to 1978 and Under-Secretary-General from 1979 to 1990.
Abdulrahim Abby FarahCabdiraxiim Abby Faarax · Abdirahim Abby Farah
- Lived
- 1919 to 2018
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
- Sources
- 3 sources
Who was he?
Abdulrahim Abby Farah spent 25 years representing Somalia at, and then serving, the United Nations (BBC News, 15 May 2018). He chaired the UN Special Committee against Apartheid from 1969 to 1972 and was a UN Under-Secretary-General from 1979 to 1990 (same source; Wikipedia, Abdulrahim Abby Farah).
Early life in Wales
He was born on 22 October 1919 in Barry, in south Wales (Wikipedia; BBC News, 15 May 2018). His father, Abby Farah, was a Somali seaman who had come to work at Barry Docks and became a community leader. His mother, Hilda Anderson, ran a boarding house (WalesOnline, 17 May 2018; Wikipedia). He went to Gladstone Road School and Barry Grammar School, then studied at University College, Exeter (BBC News, 15 May 2018). Wikipedia records that he also studied at Balliol College, Oxford (Wikipedia).
Somali public service, 1950s to 1965
Wikipedia records that he began his career in the British Somaliland administration, and that he later directed the Somali Information Service (Wikipedia). After independence in 1960 he became Somalia's ambassador to Ethiopia in 1961. In 1962 he represented Somalia at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (BBC News, 15 May 2018), and in 1964 and 1965 at meetings of the Organisation of African Unity's Council of Ministers (Wikipedia).
At the United Nations, 1965 to 1990
From 1965 to 1972 he was Somalia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (BBC News, 15 May 2018). In 1966 he was also acting Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wikipedia). From 1969 to 1972 he chaired the UN Special Committee against Apartheid, and in 1972 he presided over a special session of the Security Council (WalesOnline). That year Somalia's Foreign Minister, Omar Arteh Ghalib, was President of the Security Council (Wikipedia).
He then joined the UN Secretariat. He was Assistant Secretary-General for Special Political Questions from 1973 to 1978 and Under-Secretary-General from 1979 to 1990 (BBC News, 15 May 2018). In 1990 he led a UN mission that reported on progress towards ending apartheid in South Africa (Wikipedia).
Later life
In 1998 he helped found the Partnership to Strengthen African Grassroots Organizations (PaSAGO) and later chaired it (Wikipedia). He died at his home in New York on 14 May 2018, aged 98 (Wikipedia; WalesOnline).
Offices held
- Director of the Somali Information Service
- Ambassador to Ethiopia, 1961 to 1965
- Permanent Representative to the United Nations, 1965 to 1972
- Chair of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid, 1969 to 1972
- UN Assistant Secretary-General for Special Political Questions, 1973 to 1978
- UN Under-Secretary-General, 1979 to 1990
Sources
- BBC News, 15 May 2018 · bbc.co.uk
- Wikipedia, Abdulrahim Abby Farah · en.wikipedia.org
- WalesOnline, 17 May 2018 · walesonline.co.uk
Abdulrahim Abby FarahCabdiraxiim Abby Faarax · Abdirahim Abby Farah
- Lived
- 1919 to 2018
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
- Sources
- 3 sources
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Abdulrahim Abby Farah (Cabdiraxiim Abby Faarax)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
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.
- 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.
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.