Adan Ahmed Elmi "Dhoolayare" (Aadan Axmed Cilmi): businessman, film backer and Somaliland minister

Who is he?

Adan Ahmed Elmi (Somali: Aadan Axmed Cilmi), known as Dhoolayare, is a Somaliland businessman and politician. He was born in Hargeisa in 1966 and grew up in Mogadishu and Hargeisa. His father, Ahmed Elmi, was a military commander under Siad Barre, and his mother, Khadija Mohamoud, owned a fruit company in eastern Hargeisa (Wikipedia, Adan Ahmed Elmi). He is from the Gashanbur Eidagale, Garhajis, Isaaq (same source).

Business, exile and film

He was a well-known businessman in Somalia before 1991. When the state collapsed he went to Europe and started businesses there (Qurbejoog, "Waa kuma siyaasi Aadan Axmed Cilmi Dhoolayare"). He lived in Norway (Utrop, 6 April 2006).

After returning to Somaliland, he put his own money into work by leading Somali artists. That produced the comedy film Ma Guuraan, with Boon Xirsi, Muuse Cali Faruur, Bas-baas, Dayrwaa and Aw-Kadleeye among the actors (Qurbejoog). Wikipedia says his comic films came out in the late 1990s (Wikipedia). He also brought a printing press to Somaliland for his business, and later handed it over to the government at a time when its budget was very small (Qurbejoog).

Minister of Agriculture

He joined the UDUB party in 2001 (Wikipedia) and became Minister of Agriculture in the government of President Dahir Riyale Kahin. Qurbejoog says the ministry had existed mostly in name before him. He brought the agencies working on farming, including FAO, WFP, IFAD, GAA, World Vision and ADO, to coordinate through the ministry, and farmers received water pumps, free seed, tractors and oxen for ploughing (Qurbejoog; Wikipedia). In 2006 the Norwegian magazine Utrop reported that he had moved back from Norway to become agriculture minister, and that he urged educated Somalis in Norway to return: "we need their knowledge here" (Utrop).

Minister of Justice, 2010

In March 2010 President Riyale reshuffled the cabinet and moved him to the justice ministry (AllAfrica, 25 March 2010; Wikipedia). After Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo became president, Ismail Mumin Are took over the post on 1 August 2010 (Wikipedia).

After 2010

He then founded the Wadajir party, which later merged with the Rays party. In March 2011 he said the new Kulmiye government had promised large pay rises but that salaries were still paid late (Wikipedia).

Sources disagree

• When he became agriculture minister. Wikipedia's text gives 10 May 2002, while its infobox and Qurbejoog give early 2005. Utrop reported in April 2006 that he had moved back from Norway to take the post a month earlier (Wikipedia; Qurbejoog; Utrop).