Leaders and statesmen
Mohamed Abshir Muse (Maxamed Abshir Muuse)
General Mohamed Abshir Muse (1926–2017) commanded the Somali Police Force from 1959 until he resigned in 1969. After the 1969 coup he was detained. From 1991 to 1994 he chaired the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), the main political movement in north-eastern Somalia before Puntland was declared in 1998.
Mohamed Abshir MuseMaxamed Abshir Muuse · Mohamed Abshir Musa
- Lived
- 1926 to 2017
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; The Republic, 1960 to 1991; Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 3 sources
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). After the civil war began he chaired the Somali Salvation Democratic Front from 1991 to 22 August 1994 (World Statesmen, Somalia).
Early life and police career
Wikipedia gives his birth date as 1 July 1926 (Wikipedia, 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, from 1941 to 1950, he served in the police and rose to police inspector (Castagno, 1975). 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.
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).
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 succeeded him (World Statesmen). 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).
His death
He died on 25 October 2017, aged 91 (Wikipedia; World Statesmen).
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.
- Chairman of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, 1991 to 22 August 1994. See Presidents of Puntland.
Sources
- Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975 · archive.org
- World Statesmen, Somalia · worldstatesmen.org
- Wikipedia, Mohamed Abshir Muse · en.wikipedia.org
Mohamed Abshir MuseMaxamed Abshir Muuse · Mohamed Abshir Musa
- Lived
- 1926 to 2017
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Toward independence, 1920 to 1960; 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.
- Boosaaso (Bosaso) and BariBari is Puntland's north-east region, with the port city of Bosaso (Boosaaso) as its capital and about 1.28 million people.
- Garoowe (Garowe) and NugaalNugaal is the region around Garoowe (Garowe), Puntland's capital, with about 656,910 people in three districts.
Same era
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