# Mohamed Abshir Muse (Maxamed Abshir Muuse)

> Mohamed Abshir Muse (1926–2017): Commander of the Somali Police Force 1959 to 1969 and chairman of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front 1991 to 1994.

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Last checked: 2026-11-12
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## Who was he?

Mohamed Abshir Muse led the Somali Police Force through the first decade of independence. He was police commander from 1959 until early 1969 ([Castagno, *Historical Dictionary of Somalia*, 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). After the civil war began he chaired the Somali Salvation Democratic Front from 1991 to 22 August 1994 ([World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html)).

## Early life and police career

Wikipedia gives his birth date as 1 July 1926 ([Wikipedia, Mohamed Abshir Muse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abshir_Muse)). Margaret Castagno's 1975 *Historical Dictionary of Somalia* records that he was born in the British protectorate in the north but spent most of his life in the south. During the [British Military Administration](/en/history/british-military-administration-1941-1950/), from 1941 to 1950, he served in the police and rose to police inspector ([Castagno, 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). Wikipedia records that he trained with the Carabinieri, Italy's gendarmerie (Wikipedia).

He joined the police in the southern territory during the trusteeship administration and became its commandant in 1959. He attended Princeton University in 1962 to 1963 (Castagno). After independence in 1960 he went on to command the national police of the [Somali Republic](/en/states/somali-republic-1960-1969/).

## Resignation and detention, 1969 to the 1970s

Castagno records that he resigned as commander early in 1969. Wikipedia says he resigned ahead of that year's elections because he opposed the way they were run (Wikipedia). After the military coup of October 1969 he was placed under house arrest. He was released in 1972, but was soon arrested again after a crowd gathered in Mogadishu in his support ([Castagno, 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)).

## The SSDF, 1991 to 1998

After the fall of the Barre government in 1991 he became chairman of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front. World Statesmen lists him as chairman from 1991 to 22 August 1994, when [Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed](/en/people/abdullahi-yusuf-ahmed/) succeeded him ([World Statesmen](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html)). World Statesmen also notes that the SSDF divided into two factions, one led by each man (same source). Wikipedia describes him as leader of the SSDF's political wing while Abdullahi Yusuf led its armed wing until 1998. Abdullahi Yusuf drew support from former military officers, and Mohamed Abshir from politicians of the 1960s civilian government ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abshir_Muse)).

## His death

He died on 25 October 2017, aged 91 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Abshir_Muse); [World Statesmen](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html)).

## Offices held

- Commandant of the police in the southern territory, from 1959
- Commander of the Somali Police Force, 1960 to 1969. See [Somali Police Force](/en/institutions/somali-police-force/).
- Chairman of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, 1991 to 22 August 1994. See [Presidents of Puntland](/en/institutions/presidents-of-puntland/).

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