Leaders and statesmen
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (Cumar Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke)
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (born 1960 in Mogadishu) is a Somali diplomat who served twice as Prime Minister of Somalia, from February 2009 to September 2010 and from December 2014 to March 2017. Son of President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, he studied at Carleton University in Canada, worked for the United Nations, and in 2014 headed Somalia's first embassy in Washington in over two decades.
Omar Abdirashid Ali SharmarkeCumar Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke · Omar Sharmarke
- Lived
- 1960 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who is he?
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke is a Somali diplomat and politician (Wikipedia, 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). He is the son of Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, Somalia's second president, who was killed in 1969 (Al Jazeera, profile, 21 September 2010). His family is Majeerteen (Darod) (Wikipedia). He studied political science and economics at Carleton University in Ottawa (Al Jazeera). He holds Somali and Canadian citizenship (same source). See Somalis in Ottawa.
UN career
He worked for the United Nations and international NGOs, mostly in Africa (Al Jazeera). He served in Sri Lanka and Sierra Leone, and advised on the Darfur conflict in Sudan (Wikipedia).
First term, 2009–2010
President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed named him prime minister on 13 February 2009 in Djibouti (Al Jazeera). Parliament approved him by 414 votes to 9 (Wikipedia). The government moved from Djibouti to Mogadishu and faced attacks by al-Shabaab, which killed several ministers in 2009 (Al Jazeera). 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.
Ambassador to the United States
In July 2014 he became Somalia's ambassador to the United States (Wikipedia). He headed the reopened embassy in Washington, the first in over two decades (same source).
Second term, 2014–2017
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud named him prime minister again on 17 December 2014 (Wikipedia). 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.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Omar Sharmarke · en.wikipedia.org
- Al Jazeera, profile, 21 September 2010 · aljazeera.com
Omar Abdirashid Ali SharmarkeCumar Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke · Omar Sharmarke
- Lived
- 1960 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
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Connected
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.