Military and armed-group figures
Ismail Ali Abokor (Ismaaciil Cali Abokor)
Brigadier General Ismail Ali Abokor (born 1937) was a member of the Supreme Revolutionary Council that took power in 1969. He was one of Somalia's vice presidents from 1971 and the first Speaker of the People's Assembly, from 1979 to 1982. He was detained in 1982 and released in 1988, after which he joined the Somali National Movement.
Ismail Ali AbokorIsmaaciil Cali Abokor · Ismaaciil Cali Obokor
- Lived
- 1937 to today
- Known as one of
- Military and armed-group figures
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
- Sources
- 3 sources
Who is he?
Ismail Ali Abokor was one of the army officers who took power in the coup of 21 October 1969 and sat on the Supreme Revolutionary Council (Wikipedia, Ismail Ali Abokor). He became one of the country's vice presidents in 1971. In 1979 he became the first Speaker of the new People's Assembly (SNA Radio, biography, 31 August 2016).
Early life and military training
He was born in Burao, in the Togdheer region, in 1937, and went to primary school there (SNA Radio, biography, 31 August 2016; Wikipedia). After secondary school he went to Britain for military training. SNA Radio records that he trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1958 (same source). He came home in 1960 as one of the first officers trained for the northern part of the country. In 1961 he became deputy commander of the officers' training school (same source).
Army career, 1961 to 1969
Wikipedia records that in 1962 he headed an army unit, and in 1963 he became deputy commander of a battalion in Kismayo. He later commanded a battalion in Kismayo. In 1967 he became chief instructor at the Halane training school in Mogadishu (Wikipedia).
Supreme Revolutionary Council, 1969 to 1982
As a lieutenant colonel he took part in the coup of October 1969 that brought Mohamed Siad Barre to power, and joined the Supreme Revolutionary Council (Wikipedia). SNA Radio records that in 1970 he was named Minister of Information and National Guidance, and that in 1971 he became the council's third vice president (SNA Radio, biography, 31 August 2016). In 1974 he chaired the council's committee on politics and social affairs. In 1976 he became a brigadier general and an assistant secretary general of the new Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (same source).
Speaker of the People's Assembly, 1979 to 1982
When the People's Assembly was set up under the 1979 constitution, he became its first Speaker (SNA Radio, biography, 31 August 2016). He held the post from 5 August 1979 to 26 January 1982 (Wikipedia, List of speakers of the Parliament of Somalia).
Detention and later life
In 1982 he was arrested. SNA Radio records that the government accused him of treason and of plotting a coup. Others detained with him included Omar Arteh Ghalib and General Omar Haji Masale. He was held until 1988 (SNA Radio, biography, 31 August 2016). After his release he joined the Somali National Movement (Wikipedia). He later moved to the United Arab Emirates (same source).
Offices held
- Member of the Supreme Revolutionary Council, 1969 to 1982
- Minister of Information and National Guidance, from 1970
- Vice President, from 1971
- Speaker of the People's Assembly, 5 August 1979 to 26 January 1982. See Speakers of Parliament.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Ismail Ali Abokor · en.wikipedia.org
- SNA Radio, biography, 31 August 2016 · snaradio.net
- Wikipedia, List of speakers of the Parliament of Somalia · en.wikipedia.org
Ismail Ali AbokorIsmaaciil Cali Abokor · Ismaaciil Cali Obokor
- Lived
- 1937 to today
- Known as one of
- Military and armed-group figures
- 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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Read the callWhere this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Kismaayo (Kismayo) and Lower JubaLower Juba is the far southern region on the border with Kenya, with the port city of Kismayo (Kismaayo) as its capital and about 1.2 million people.
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