# Muse Bihi Abdi (Muuse Biixi Cabdi)

> Muse Bihi Abdi, born 1948: pilot, SNM member, Kulmiye chairman and President of Somaliland 2017–2024.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/muse-bihi-abdi/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is he?

Muse Bihi Abdi was the fifth President of Somaliland, from 13 December 2017 to 12 December 2024 ([Wikipedia, Muse Bihi Abdi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse_Bihi_Abdi)).

Somaliland declared its independence in 1991. Israel recognised it on 26 December 2025; most states and the African Union regard it as part of Somalia. See [Somaliland, 1991 to 2026](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/).

## Early life and air force career

He was born in 1948 on the outskirts of Hargeisa. He finished Amoud Secondary School in 1970 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse_Bihi_Abdi)). In the early 1970s he joined the [Somali Air Force](/en/institutions/somali-air-force/) and trained as a pilot in the Soviet Union, graduating from the pilots' academy in Dushanbe in 1973 (same source). From 1981 to 1985 he took further training in the United States (same source).

## The SNM years

In 1985 he left the air force and joined the Somali National Movement, which opposed the government of [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse_Bihi_Abdi)). See [the Siad Barre era](/en/history/siad-barre-era-1969-1991/).

## In Somaliland politics

From 1973 to 1985 he held senior posts, including head of training in the Somali Air Force and military attaché at the Somali embassy in Washington ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse_Bihi_Abdi)).

After 1991 he took part in reconciliation meetings between the communities of the north at [Burao](/en/regions/togdheer/), Berbera, [Sheekh](/en/regions/sheikh/) and [Boorama](/en/regions/awdal/) (same source). In 1993 he became Minister of the Interior and National Security under President [Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal](/en/people/mohamed-haji-ibrahim-egal/) (same source). He was vice chairman of the Kulmiye party from 2008 and its chairman from 2010. In 2015 the party congress chose him as its presidential candidate (same source).

## President, 2017 to 2024

The presidential vote was held on 13 November 2017. He received 55% to 41% for Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, was declared the winner on 21 November, and was sworn in at Hargeisa on 13 December 2017. Leaders from Ethiopia, Djibouti, the European Union and the United Kingdom attended ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse_Bihi_Abdi); [Wikipedia, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)). In January 2024 his government signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia over sea access, which strained relations with the federal government in Mogadishu ([The New Arab, November 2024](https://www.newarab.com/news/somaliland-opposition-leader-wins-presidential-election)).

In the vote of 13 November 2024 he received 34.81% to 63.92% for [Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro](/en/people/abdirahman-mohamed-abdullahi-irro/) (same source). He pledged a peaceful handover, and Irro was sworn in on 12 December 2024 ([Wikipedia, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdirahman_Mohamed_Abdullahi)).

This page records his public role only.

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