# Ahmed Abdi Karie "Qoorqoor" (Axmed Cabdi Kaariye): president of Galmudug, 2020 to 2026 > Ahmed Abdi Karie (Qoorqoor), president of Galmudug 2020 to 2026: background in Hobyo and business, the 2020 handover, militias and Hobyo port, the oil well, the 2026 direct elections and his successor. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/ahmed-abdi-karie/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Who is he? Ahmed Abdi Karie, nicknamed "Qoorqoor" (Somali: Axmed Cabdi Kaariye), was the sixth president of [Galmudug](/en/states/galmudug/), serving from 2 February 2020 to 22 October 2026 ([Wikipedia, Ahmed Abdi Karie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Abdi_Karie)). He was born in Hobyo on 10 October 1968, and is from the Habar Gidir, Hawiye. He moved to Mogadishu when young, studied at the Science College and took a Bachelor of Science, then worked in his father's business (same source). ## Before Galmudug From March 2017 to January 2020 he was minister of state for public works, reconstruction and housing in the federal government ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Abdi_Karie)). [Garowe Online](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/) described him as "a former federal government minister and a bureaucrat with Mogadishu administration" ([Garowe Online, February 2020](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/after-months-of-stalemate-galmadugs-outgoing-president-hands-over-to-qoor-qoor/)). ## Taking office, 2020 He was elected in early 2020. The outgoing president, [Ahmed Duale Gelle "Haaf"](/en/people/ahmed-duale-gelle/), at first refused to hand over, saying the federal government had "handpicked" the winner and that his own term ran to 2021. After talks in Dhuusamarreeb, Gelle handed over at a ceremony there. Qoorqoor said: "Elections come and go but our people remain. Let's work together for the sake of stability for our state" ([Garowe Online](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/after-months-of-stalemate-galmadugs-outgoing-president-hands-over-to-qoor-qoor/)). ## In office He said his main tasks were to bring clan militias into the state security forces and to build the port at Hobyo. On 2 June 2020, in [Gaalkacyo](/en/regions/mudug/), he announced a plan to disarm clan militias and recover illegal weapons ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Abdi_Karie), citing AllAfrica, June 2020). He described his relationship with the federal government as close ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Abdi_Karie)). In September 2023 he and his deputy, Ali Dahir Eid, issued conflicting decrees in a public dispute ([Horn Observer, 9 September 2023](https://hornobserver.com/articles/2444/Power-struggle-between-Galmudug-president-and-deputy-sparks-crisis)). In April 2026 his cabinet welcomed the choice of Galmudug as the site of Somalia's first oil well, and announced preparations for direct, one-person-one-vote elections, the first in the state in more than 50 years. The cabinet's statement said the state leadership was part of the supreme council of the ruling [Justice and Solidarity Party](/en/institutions/politics-of-somalia/) (JSP) ([Dawan Africa, 16 April 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/galmudug-state-announces-preparations-for-direct-elections-praises-first-oil-well-drilling)). See [Oil and gas](/en/economy/oil-and-gas/). ## The 2026 elections and his successor In June 2026 he announced he would not seek another term ([Dawan Africa, 22 October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/liban-ahmed-hassan-elected-galmudug-leader-pledges-to-serve-all-residents)). On 24 August 2026 the Supreme Court annulled the results of the first Galmudug parliament and local council elections, saying they had not been run in line with the constitution and election laws, and ordered that existing institutions stay in office until new ones were elected ([Dawan Africa, 24 August 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somalias-supreme-court-annuls-galmudug-elections)). In the rerun on 30 September the JSP won 67 of 89 seats. On 22 October the new parliament elected Liban Ahmed Hassan of the JSP as leader, with 72 votes. Hassan thanked Qoorqoor for "facilitating a peaceful election" ([Dawan Africa, 22 October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/liban-ahmed-hassan-elected-galmudug-leader-pledges-to-serve-all-residents)). ## Sources disagree - **His name.** Wikipedia writes Karie; Garowe Online and [Dawan](/en/society/somaliland-newspapers/) Africa write Kariye. His nickname appears as both Qoor Qoor and Qoorqoor ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Abdi_Karie); [Garowe Online](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/after-months-of-stalemate-galmadugs-outgoing-president-hands-over-to-qoor-qoor/); [Dawan Africa](https://www.dawan.africa/news/liban-ahmed-hassan-elected-galmudug-leader-pledges-to-serve-all-residents)). - **Gelle's term.** Gelle said in January 2020 that his term ran to 2021, because his administration had been set up late. His successor took office in February 2020 ([Garowe Online](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/after-months-of-stalemate-galmadugs-outgoing-president-hands-over-to-qoor-qoor/)). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.