Leaders and statesmen
Ahmed Dini Ahmed
Ahmed Dini Ahmed (1932–2004) was an Afar politician and Djibouti's first Prime Minister after independence, from July 1977. He had led the local Government Council in 1959–60 and was speaker of the assembly in 1977. He resigned within months, later led an armed faction of the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) during the 1990s civil war, and returned from exile in 2000.
Ahmed Dini AhmedAhmed Dini
- Lived
- 1932 to 2004
- 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?
Ahmed Dini Ahmed was a leading Afar politician in Djibouti across five decades. World Statesmen lists him as Vice President of the Government Council of French Somaliland from May 1959 to June 1960 and as Prime Minister of independent Djibouti from 12 July 1977 to 5 February 1978 (World Statesmen, Djibouti). After leaving office he spent many years in opposition, including in armed rebellion (Wikipedia, Ahmed Dini Ahmed).
Early life and colonial politics
He was born in 1932 near Mount Mabla in the north of the territory, and trained as a health technician (Wikipedia). He entered politics at 26. He was a member of the government of Ali Aref Bourhan in 1962–1964, helped found the Afar Democratic Union, and was minister of home affairs until 1971 (same source).
Independence and Prime Minister
In 1975 he became spokesman, and general secretary, of the African People's League for Independence (LPAI), which was led by Hassan Gouled Aptidon (Wikipedia; Wikipedia, Hassan Gouled Aptidon). He was President of the National Assembly from 13 May to 13 July 1977 (Wikipedia). On 12 July 1977 he became the first Prime Minister of the new republic (World Statesmen), also in charge of regional planning (Wikipedia). Wikipedia records that he resigned in December 1977, while World Statesmen dates the end of his term to 5 February 1978. Wikipedia links the resignation to a bombing in the capital that was followed by a ban on an opposition party, and to disagreements with President Gouled (Wikipedia).
Opposition and the civil war
When the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD), an Afar armed group, began fighting the government in 1991, he became one of its leaders. In 1994 the movement split: a moderate faction made peace with the government in December 1994, while Dini led the faction that continued to fight. Its congress in September 1994 elected him head of its executive committee (Wikipedia). After his faction signed a reconciliation agreement with the government in February 2000, he returned to Djibouti from Yemen on 29 March 2000, after nine years in exile (same source).
Later life
In the January 2003 parliamentary election he headed the list of the opposition Union for a Democratic Alternative in the Djibouti district. The coalition won no seats (Wikipedia). He died on 12 September 2004 at a French military hospital in Djibouti (same source).
Offices held
- Vice President of the Government Council of French Somaliland, May 1959 to June 1960
- Minister of Home Affairs, until 1971
- President of the National Assembly of Djibouti, May to July 1977
- Prime Minister of Djibouti, 12 July 1977 to 5 February 1978 (World Statesmen dates). See Presidents and Prime Ministers of Djibouti.
Sources
- World Statesmen, Djibouti · worldstatesmen.org
- Wikipedia, Ahmed Dini Ahmed · en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Hassan Gouled Aptidon · en.wikipedia.org
Ahmed Dini AhmedAhmed Dini
- Lived
- 1932 to 2004
- 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
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