# Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (Cumar Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke)

> Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (born 1960): twice Prime Minister of Somalia (2009–2010, 2014–2017) and UN diplomat.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/omar-abdirashid-sharmarke/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is he?

Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke is a Somali diplomat and politician ([Wikipedia, Omar Sharmarke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sharmarke)). He was Prime Minister of Somalia twice (same source). This page covers his public role.

## Family and study

He was born in Mogadishu on 18 June 1960 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sharmarke)). He is the son of [Abdirashid Ali Shermarke](/en/people/abdirashid-ali-shermarke/), Somalia's second president, who was killed in 1969 ([Al Jazeera, profile, 21 September 2010](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/9/21/profile-omar-abdirashid-sharmarke)). His family is Majeerteen (Darod) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sharmarke)). He studied political science and economics at Carleton University in Ottawa ([Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/9/21/profile-omar-abdirashid-sharmarke)). He holds Somali and Canadian citizenship (same source). See [Somalis in Ottawa](/en/diaspora/ottawa/).

## UN career

He worked for the United Nations and international NGOs, mostly in Africa ([Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/9/21/profile-omar-abdirashid-sharmarke)). He served in Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone, and advised on the Darfur conflict in [Sudan](/en/diaspora/sudan/) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sharmarke)).

## First term, 2009–2010

President [Sharif Sheikh Ahmed](/en/people/sharif-sheikh-ahmed/) named him prime minister on 13 February 2009 in Djibouti ([Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/9/21/profile-omar-abdirashid-sharmarke)). Parliament approved him by 414 votes to 9 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sharmarke)). The government moved from Djibouti to Mogadishu and faced attacks by al-Shabaab, which killed several ministers in 2009 ([Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/9/21/profile-omar-abdirashid-sharmarke)). A dispute with the president grew, including over a draft constitution (same source). He resigned on 21 September 2010, citing "irreconcilable difference" with the president (same source). See [Islamist movements and transitional governments](/en/history/islamist-movements-and-transitional-governments-2000-2012/).

## Ambassador to the United States

In July 2014 he became Somalia's ambassador to the United States ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sharmarke)). He headed the reopened embassy in Washington, the first in over two decades (same source).

## Second term, 2014–2017

President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) named him prime minister again on 17 December 2014 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sharmarke)). Parliament approved him with 218 votes on 24 December (same source). His cabinet was approved in February 2015 (same source). His term ended on 1 March 2017 (same source).

## In short

Prime Minister twice, in 2009 to 2010 and 2014 to 2017, and later ambassador to the United States.

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