# Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo)

> Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed 'Farmaajo', born 1962: Prime Minister 2010–2011 and President of Somalia 2017–2022.

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

## Who is he?

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, widely known as Farmaajo, was President of Somalia from 2017 to 2022. Before that he was Prime Minister for eight months in 2010 and 2011 ([Wikipedia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abdullahi_Mohamed)). The nickname comes from the Italian word for cheese ([Africanews, 28 February 2017](https://www.africanews.com/2017/02/28/profile-somalia-s-cheese-president-mohammed-abdullahi-mohammed-farmajo)).

## Early life

He was born on 11 March 1962 in Mogadishu. His parents were members of the [Somali Youth League](/en/history/somali-youth-league/). His father worked as a civil servant in the transport department in the 1970s ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abdullahi_Mohamed)). His family is Mareehaan (Darood) (same source).

## Diplomat and public servant in the United States

He worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1982 to 1985, then as First Secretary at the Somali embassy in Washington until 1988 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abdullahi_Mohamed)). He stayed in the United States, studied history at the University at Buffalo and graduated in 1993. He later earned a master's degree in political science there (same source).

In Buffalo he worked in public service: on the city housing authority, for Erie County on minority business, and from 2002 as Commissioner for Equal Employment at the New York State Department of Transportation ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abdullahi_Mohamed)).

## Prime Minister, 2010 to 2011

President [Sharif Sheikh Ahmed](/en/people/sharif-sheikh-ahmed/) named him Prime Minister on 15 October 2010 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abdullahi_Mohamed)). He resigned in June 2011 under the [Kampala Accord](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) between the President and the Speaker (same source). He then founded the Tayo party.

## President, 2017 to 2022

On 8 February 2017 parliament elected him President. The vote was held in a hangar at Mogadishu airport for security reasons ([UN Africa Renewal](https://africarenewal.un.org/en/magazine/farmaajo-inaugurated-ninth-president-somalia)). He was sworn in as the ninth President later that month (same source). In 2019 he gave up his US citizenship ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abdullahi_Mohamed)).

His term was due to end in February 2021. In April 2021 parliament's lower house voted to extend his term by two years. Clashes followed in Mogadishu, and 60,000 to 100,000 people fled their homes. He then dropped the extension and returned to election talks ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abdullahi_Mohamed)). In May 2022 parliament elected [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/), and Farmaajo handed over power (same source).

This page records his public role only.

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