Leaders and statesmen
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo)
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, known as Farmaajo (born 1962), was Prime Minister of Somalia from November 2010 to June 2011 and President from February 2017 to May 2022. Born in Mogadishu, he spent many years in Buffalo, New York, as a public servant before returning to Somali politics.
Mohamed Abdullahi MohamedFarmaajo · Farmajo
- Lived
- 1962 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 3 sources
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). The nickname comes from the Italian word for cheese (Africanews, 28 February 2017).
Early life
He was born on 11 March 1962 in Mogadishu. His parents were members of the Somali Youth League. His father worked as a civil servant in the transport department in the 1970s (Wikipedia). 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). 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).
Prime Minister, 2010 to 2011
President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed named him Prime Minister on 15 October 2010 (Wikipedia). He resigned in June 2011 under the Kampala Accord 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). He was sworn in as the ninth President later that month (same source). In 2019 he gave up his US citizenship (Wikipedia).
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). In May 2022 parliament elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Farmaajo handed over power (same source).
This page records his public role only.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed · en.wikipedia.org
- Africanews, 28 February 2017 · africanews.com
- UN Africa Renewal · africarenewal.un.org
Mohamed Abdullahi MohamedFarmaajo · Farmajo
- Lived
- 1962 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 3 sources
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Where 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.
- Garbahaarrey (Garbaharey) and GedoGedo is the south-western region on the borders with Kenya and Ethiopia, with Garbahaarrey as its capital and about 1 million people.
Same era
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- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Presidents of Somalia, 1960 to 2026Every president and acting president of Somalia from 1960 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
- Prime Ministers of Somalia, 1956 to 2026Every Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister of Somalia from 1956 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
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- Aden Abdulle Osman (Aadan Cabdulle Cismaan, Aden Adde)Aden Adde (1908–2007), first President of the Somali Republic: his life, the Somali Youth League, 1960 and the peaceful handover of 1967.
- Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke)Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (1919–1969): first Prime Minister and second President of the Somali Republic, his life and his death in 1969.
- Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal)Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (1928–2002): Prime Minister in 1960 and 1967–69, President of Somaliland 1993–2002. His life and public roles.