Poets and writers

Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid (Aag)

Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid, known as Aag, is a Somali writer and columnist born in 1953 in Garbahaarreey, Gedo. He was jailed and deported in 1988 for questioning the military government in print, and later wrote widely on Somalia from the United Arab Emirates.

Last checked 2026-11-12 1 source Reading time: 1 min

Ahmed Abdullahi GulleidAag

Lived
1953 to today
Known as one of
Poets and writers
Era
The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

Who is he?

Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid, also known as "Aag", is a Somali writer and researcher (Wikipedia). He was born in 1953 in Garbahaarreey in the Gedo region, went to school there and then moved to Mogadishu to study (same source).

Prison and exile

In 1988, while still in college, he questioned in print the legality and actions of the October 1969 revolutionary government, and was jailed and then deported (Wikipedia). He went on to study in Canada, the United Kingdom and Yemen (same source).

Writing

He is a syndicated writer and columnist on Somali affairs, including opposition to armed Islamist groups (Wikipedia). Wikipedia says one of his online articles drew about 200,000 readers and more than 3,400 comments (same source). His book Somalia: A Reciprocal Curse? came out in January 2009, and he lives and works in the United Arab Emirates (same source). See Somalis in the UAE.

In short

A Gedo-born writer who was jailed for his words in 1988 and kept writing about Somalia from exile.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org

Ahmed Abdullahi GulleidAag

Lived
1953 to today
Known as one of
Poets and writers
Era
The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
1 sources

Toosoo!

Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.

Can you help with Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid (Aag)? Tell us what you can give.

I want to help with this
What you can give

Only the core team sees your answer. We never share or publish it. Privacy · or email hello@calankii.com.

All the ways to help

Same era

Keep reading