# Omar Arteh Ghalib (Cumar Carte Qaalib)

> Omar Arteh Ghalib (1930–2020): Foreign Minister 1969 to 1976 and Prime Minister 1991 to 1993.

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Last checked: 2026-11-12
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## Who was he?

Omar Arteh Ghalib was one of the best-known Somali diplomats of the 1970s. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1969 to 1976 ([Rulers.org, Foreign ministers S to Z](https://rulers.org/fm4.html)). In January 1991, as the government collapsed, he became Prime Minister. World Statesmen dates that term from 24 January 1991 to May 1993 ([World Statesmen, Somalia](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html)).

## Early life and teaching

He was born in 1930 in [British Somaliland](/en/history/british-somaliland-1884-1960/) (Wikipedia). He went to school in Hargeisa and [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/), and studied at the University of [Bristol](/en/diaspora/bristol/) in England ([Wikipedia, Umar Arteh Ghalib](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_Ghalib)). He began as a schoolteacher and became headmaster of elementary schools in Laascaanood, Berbera and Hargeisa. Before leaving for Britain in 1956 he was vice-principal of Sheikh Intermediate School. On his return in 1958 he became the first principal of Gabiley Intermediate Boarding School (same source).

## Foreign Minister, 1969 to 1976

After the 1969 coup he became Minister of Foreign Affairs (Wikipedia; [Rulers.org](https://rulers.org/fm4.html)). In January 1972 he was President of the United Nations Security Council. In 1972 he acted as a mediator between Uganda and [Tanzania](/en/diaspora/tanzania/). Somalia joined the Arab League in 1974, during his time as Foreign Minister (Wikipedia). [Mohamed Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) took over the foreign ministry himself in 1976 ([Rulers.org](https://rulers.org/fm4.html)).

## Detention, 1982 to 1990

Wikipedia records that he was dismissed in 1982 after disagreeing with the government's policy on the conflict in Ethiopia's Somali Region, and was then arrested (Wikipedia). SNA Radio lists him among the officials detained in 1982 together with [Ismail Ali Abokor](/en/people/ismail-ali-abokor/) ([SNA Radio, 31 August 2016](http://snaradio.net/so/articles/1603/Taariikh-nololeedkii-S-Guuto-Ismaaciil-Cali-Obokor)). In 1989 he was tried for treason and sentenced to death. After protests from foreign governments the sentence was commuted, and he was kept under house arrest (Wikipedia).

## Prime Minister, 1991 to 1993

On 24 January 1991, after two years of house arrest, President Siad Barre appointed him Prime Minister. Days later United Somali Congress forces took Mogadishu and Barre left the capital. [Ali Mahdi Muhammad](/en/people/ali-mahdi-muhammad/), who became interim President, reappointed him (Wikipedia; [World Statesmen](https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html)). World Statesmen lists him as a member of the United Somali Congress and dates his term to May 1993, and notes that he remained Prime Minister de facto until 3 January 1997 (same source).

He died on 18 November 2020 (Wikipedia).

## Offices held

- First principal of Gabiley Intermediate Boarding School, 1958
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1969 to 1976. See [Foreign Ministers of Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-ministers-of-somalia/).
- President of the UN Security Council, January 1972
- Prime Minister, 24 January 1991 to May 1993. See [Prime Ministers of Somalia](/en/people/prime-ministers-of-somalia/).

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