# Haji Muse Boqor (Xaaji Muuse Boqor): SYL minister and businessman, 1911 to 1991

> Haji Muse Boqor: born in Bargal, the Somali Youth League, first interior minister of the trusteeship government, the 1969 coup and his detention, the Manifesto group, and his death in Mogadishu in January 1991.

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Last checked: 2026-11-12
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## Who was he?

Haji Muse Boqor Osman (Somali: Xaaji Muuse Boqor Cismaan) was a Somali politician and businessman. He was a son of [Boqor Osman Mahamud](/en/people/boqor-osman-mahamud/), the Majeerteen king, and was born in Bargal, in present-day [Bari](/en/regions/bari/), in 1911 ([Wikipedia, Haji Muse Boqor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Muse_Boqor)). He memorised the Quran as a boy and moved to Mogadishu in 1929 to continue his education (same source).

## The Somali Youth League and the trusteeship

He joined the [Somali Youth League](/en/history/somali-youth-league/), which campaigned for independence. During the ten years of the Italian trusteeship he served in the government of [Abdullahi Issa](/en/people/abdullahi-issa/), as the first Minister of Interior, and held the post until independence. He was also a member of Somalia's first parliament ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Muse_Boqor)). Wikipedia lists him as a businessman and entrepreneur as well as a politician (same source).

## October 1969

On 15 October 1969 President [Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke](/en/people/abdirashid-ali-shermarke/) was shot dead in Laascaanood. Haji Muse Boqor was in contention to become the next president. Six days later, on 21 October, the army led by [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) took power without resistance ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Muse_Boqor)). See [The civilian era, 1960 to 1969](/en/history/civilian-era-1960-1969/).

## Detention and the Manifesto

After the coup many politicians, scholars and religious leaders were arrested as possible rivals, and he was among them. After his release he became one of the 114 signatories of the "Manifesto" of 1990, which called for an end to the fighting between Siad Barre's government and the [United Somali Congress](/en/institutions/united-somali-congress/) in Mogadishu ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Muse_Boqor)). See [The Siad Barre era](/en/history/siad-barre-era-1969-1991/).

## Death

On 5 January 1991, as fighting reached Mogadishu, he was killed by mortar fire in the Kaaraan district ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Muse_Boqor)). Radio Daljir marked the 30th anniversary with an interview with his son, [Yaasiin Muuse](/en/people/yaseen-musa/) Boqor, who saw his father die; it reports that he was killed together with other well-known politicians in Mogadishu on 5 January 1991 ([Radio Daljir, 7 January 2022](https://www.daljir.com/xasuus-xaaji-muuse-boqor-cusmaan-oo-muqdishu-lagu-dilay-1991/)).

## Sources disagree

- **How he died.** Wikipedia's opening calls his death an assassination; its section on his death describes mortar shelling in Kaaraan. Radio Daljir says he was killed ("lagu dilay") along with other politicians ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Muse_Boqor); [Radio Daljir](https://www.daljir.com/xasuus-xaaji-muuse-boqor-cusmaan-oo-muqdishu-lagu-dilay-1991/)).
- **His years as interior minister.** Wikipedia's infobox gives 1956 to 1959; its text says he held the post until independence in 1960 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Muse_Boqor)).

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