# Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud)

> Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, born 1955: educator, SIMAD co-founder, President of Somalia 2012–2017 and again from 2022.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is he?

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is the President of Somalia. He held the office from 2012 to 2017 and was elected again in 2022 ([Wikipedia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud)). The presidency's own site calls him the first Somali President elected to two terms that did not follow each other ([Villa Somalia, The President](https://villasomalia.gov.so/the-president/)).

## Early life and education

He was born on 29 November 1955 in the [Hiiraan](/en/regions/hiiraan/) region and went to school there ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud)). In 1978 he moved to Mogadishu and studied at the Polytechnic Institute, earning a diploma in 1981. He earned a master's degree in technical education at Bhopal University in India in 1988 (same source).

## Teacher and civil society

He taught at Lafoole Technical Secondary School and then at the Technical Teachers' Training College, where he became head of department in 1986 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud)). He stayed in Somalia through the civil war. From 1993 to 1995 he was an education officer for UNICEF in the centre and south (same source).

In 1999 he co-founded the Somali Institute of Management and Administration (SIMAD) in Mogadishu, which grew into [SIMAD University](/en/institutions/main-universities/). He was its dean until 2010 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud)). See [universities in Somalia](/en/society/universities-in-somalia/).

## First term, 2012 to 2017

In September 2012 the new Federal Parliament elected him President. He was the first President of the Federal Government after the transitional years ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud)). *Time* magazine listed him among the 100 most influential people of 2013 (same source). His first government was also criticised for corruption and infighting ([The EastAfrican, May 2022](https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/somalia-new-president-mohamud-dove-turned-fierce-critic-3817044)). In February 2017 parliament chose Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo instead, and he handed over.

## Second term, from 2022

He founded the Union for [Peace and Development Party](/en/government/union-for-peace-and-development-party/). In May 2022 parliament elected him President again ([The EastAfrican, May 2022](https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/somalia-new-president-mohamud-dove-turned-fierce-critic-3817044)). In October 2022 he completed a doctorate in peace, governance and development ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud)).

On 18 March 2025 a bomb exploded beside his convoy as it left the presidential palace in Mogadishu; he was unhurt, and al-Shabaab said its fighters had targeted him ([Reuters, via Yahoo News, 18 March 2025](https://www.yahoo.com/news/somali-militants-target-presidential-convoy-142207941.html)). See [The bomb attack on the president's convoy in Mogadishu, 18 March 2025](/en/history/attack-on-president-convoy-mogadishu-2025/).

His four-year term was due to end on 15 May 2026. In March 2026 parliament changed the constitution to extend the terms of the President and of parliament by a year ([Citizen Digital, March 2026](https://citizen.digital/news/somali-parliament-approves-constitution-change-to-extend-presidents-term-delay-election-n378547)). The opposition rejects the extension. In October 2026 the government said a presidential vote would be held in May 2027 ([BusinessDay, 16 October 2026](https://www.businessday.co.za/world/africa/2026-10-16-somalia-says-it-will-hold-a-presidential-election-in-may-2027/)).

This page records his public role only. It is updated as events change.

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