Leaders and statesmen
Muse Bihi Abdi (Muuse Biixi Cabdi)
Muse Bihi Abdi (born 1948) is a former air force officer who was President of Somaliland from December 2017 to December 2024. He trained as a pilot in the Soviet Union, joined the Somali National Movement in 1985, chaired the Kulmiye party, and handed over after losing the November 2024 vote.
Muse Bihi AbdiMuse Bihi · Muuse Biixi
- Lived
- 1948 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?
Muse Bihi Abdi was the fifth President of Somaliland, from 13 December 2017 to 12 December 2024 (Wikipedia, 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.
Early life and air force career
He was born in 1948 on the outskirts of Hargeisa. He finished Amoud Secondary School in 1970 (Wikipedia). In the early 1970s he joined the 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 (Wikipedia). See the Siad Barre era.
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).
After 1991 he took part in reconciliation meetings between the communities of the north at Burao, Berbera, Sheekh and Boorama (same source). In 1993 he became Minister of the Interior and National Security under President 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; Wikipedia, 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).
In the vote of 13 November 2024 he received 34.81% to 63.92% for Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro (same source). He pledged a peaceful handover, and Irro was sworn in on 12 December 2024 (Wikipedia, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi).
This page records his public role only.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Muse Bihi Abdi · en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi · en.wikipedia.org
- The New Arab, November 2024 · newarab.com
Muse Bihi AbdiMuse Bihi · Muuse Biixi
- Lived
- 1948 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
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- 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.
- Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Axmed Gurey)Imam Ahmad Gurey (about 1506–1543): leader of Adal in the war with Ethiopia, his life, the debate on his origin and how he is remembered.
- 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.