# Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo (Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud Siilaanyo)

> Silanyo (1938–2024): Manchester-trained economist, Somali minister, SNM chairman and President of Somaliland 2010–2017.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/ahmed-mohamed-mohamoud-silanyo/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who was he?

Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud, known by his nickname Silanyo, was President of Somaliland from 2010 to 2017. Earlier he was a minister in the Somali government and the longest-serving chairman of the Somali National Movement (SNM) ([Wikipedia, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Mohamed_Mohamoud)).

Somaliland declared its independence in 1991. Israel recognised it on 26 December 2025; most states and the African Union regard it as part of Somalia. See [Somaliland, 1991 to 2026](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/).

## Early life and study

He was born on 1 June 1938 in [Burao](/en/regions/togdheer/). His father was a merchant seaman, and he was the only one of six children to go to school, with the help of an uncle ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Mohamed_Mohamoud)). His family is Habar Jeclo (Isaaq). He studied at [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) and Amoud, then in [London](/en/diaspora/london/) from 1958. He earned a bachelor's degree (1963) and a master's (1965) in economics at the University of Manchester (same source).

## In the Somali government

From 1965 he worked at the Ministry of Planning in Mogadishu. He was Minister of Planning from 1969 to 1973 and Minister of Commerce from 1973 to 1978 and from 1980 to 1982 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Mohamed_Mohamoud)).

## The SNM

He joined the SNM, which had been formed in London in 1981 ([Library of Congress, *Somalia: A Country Study*, 1992](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/30.htm)). He chaired its UK branch from 1982, building offices abroad, and chaired the whole movement from 1984 to 1990 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Mohamed_Mohamoud)).

## In Somaliland

He sat in Somaliland's House of Representatives from 1993 to 1997, was Finance Minister from 1997 to 1999 and Planning Minister from 1999 to 2000 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Mohamed_Mohamoud)). He founded the Kulmiye party.

In April 2003 he lost the presidential vote by 80 votes and accepted the court's ruling ([Wikipedia, 2003 Somaliland presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Somaliland_presidential_election)). In June 2010 he won, and served as President until 2017. He then retired because of age and health (same sources).

## His death

He died in Hargeisa on 15 November 2024, aged 86, while the votes of that month's election were being counted. He was given a state burial on 18 November ([Somali Guardian, November 2024](https://www.somaliguardian.com/news/somalia-news/somaliland-mourns-ex-president-as-election-ballots-continue-to-be-counted/)). Leaders in Mogadishu and Ethiopia sent condolences (same source).

## In short

President of Somaliland from 2010 to 2017. He accepted the narrow result of the 2003 election.

---
I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.