# Khadra Haji Ismail Geid (Khadra Xaaji Ismaaciil Geydh)

> Khadra Haji Ismail Geid: first woman mayor in Somaliland (Gabiley, 2011 to 2012) and first woman elected to a Somaliland local council.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/khadra-haji-ismail-geid/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is she?

Khadra Haji Ismail Geid is a [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) politician ([Wikipedia, Khadra Haji Ismail Geid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadra_Haji_Ismail_Geid)). In 2011 she became mayor of [Gabiley](/en/regions/gabiley/), the first woman mayor in Somaliland ([UNPO, 3 June 2011](https://unpo.org/article/12705)). She was born in Gabiley District in 1964 or 1965 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khadra_Haji_Ismail_Geid)). Allsanaag places her family in the Sa'ad Musa (Habar Awal, Isaaq) ([Allsanaag, 29 March 2018](https://allsanaag.com/ciise-xawar-shaqadiisu-maxay-tahay/)).

## Local council

In 1969 her father ran for a parliamentary seat in Gabiley ([UNPO, 15 September 2011](https://unpo.org/somaliland-first-female-mayor-elected/)). In the 2002 local elections she joined Kulmiye, led by Ahmed Silanyo (same source). She won a council seat in Gabiley, the first woman elected to a local council in Somaliland ([BBC Somali, 28 November 2016](https://www.bbc.com/somali/38127360)). In 2006 she became deputy mayor (same source). Under Somaliland's 2002 local government law, the council chair is the mayor ([Somaliland Law](http://www.somalilandlaw.com/body_local_government_law.htm)).

## Mayor of Gabiley

In May 2011 the mayor, Aden Muhumed, was removed over corruption allegations ([Hiiraan Online, 28 May 2011](https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2011/May/18900/somaliland_s_first_woman_mayor_takes_role_in_gabiley_city.aspx)). The district council then elected her acting mayor (same source). In September 2011 UNPO reported a 72% approval rating for her ([UNPO](https://unpo.org/somaliland-first-female-mayor-elected/)). In November 2011 she and the regional governor began building a guest house on land bought for the purpose ([Somaliland Post](https://somalilandpost.news/gudoomiyaha-gobolka-gabiley-iyo-maayarka-magaalada-oo-dhagax-dhigay-dhisme-loogu-tallo-galay-guriga-martida/)). In February 2012 elders gave her a certificate of honour for new roads and the expanded council offices ([Haatuf, 17 February 2012](http://www.haatuf.net/2009files/3305.html)).

## Change of mayor, March 2012

On 10 March 2012, 12 councillors tried to meet to remove her; police stopped them and arrested them ([Araweelo News](https://archive.araweelonews.com/wararka/wararka-wararka-2/12-ka-mid-ah-xildhibaanada-golaha-deegaanka-gebilay-oo-xabsiga-loo-taxaabay-iyo-xiisado-ka-aloosan-halkaa/)). On 14 March she chaired a council session that elected Ahmed Muhumed Qalib as mayor with 16 votes ([Saxafi Media](https://saxafimedia.com/xildhibaanada-deegaanka-gabiley-ee-la-xidhay-oo-dhaar-ka-dib-isku-raacay-hogaamiye-iyo-habkii-doorashadu-u-dhacday/)). She congratulated him and became deputy mayor again (same source). On 31 March the First Lady, Amina Weris, honoured her year in office ([Somaliland Post](https://somalilandpost.news/khadra-xaaji-gaydh-shakhsi-ka-soo-baxday-hawsheeda-oo-ku-suntanaan-doonta-taariikhda-gabiley/)).

## Later posts

In January 2016 President Silanyo made her Director General of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs ([Horn Tribune, 3 January 2016](https://horntribune.com/2016/01/03/somalilandpresident-appoints-ms-khadra-h-gaydh-as-new-dg-in-the-ministry-of-presidential-affairs/)). When President [Muse Bihi](/en/people/muse-bihi-abdi/) closed that ministry in December 2017, the outgoing minister handed its work to her ([BBC Somali, 14 December 2017](https://www.bbc.com/somali/war-42355768)). In February 2018 she was named deputy chair of the Quality Control Commission ([Hiiraan Online, 22 February 2018](https://www.hiiraan.com/news/2018/feb/wararka_maanta22-154784.htm)). She declined the post days later for personal reasons ([Baligubadle Media, 25 February 2018](https://baligubadlemedia.com/2018/02/khadra-xaaji-gaydh-oo-iska-casishay-xil-loo-magacaabay/)).

## In short

Somaliland's first woman councillor and first woman mayor (Gabiley, 2011 to 2012), and later a senior official in the presidency.

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