- Abdalle Mumin (Cabdalle Muumin)Abdalle Mumin: Secretary General of the Somali Journalists Syndicate and press freedom campaigner.
- Abdiaziz Mohamud GuledAbdiaziz Mohamud Guled (Abdiaziz Afrika): Somali TV journalist and Radio Mogadishu director, killed in 2021.
- Abdirahman Duale Beyle (Cabdiraxmaan Ducaale Beyle): economist, foreign minister and finance ministerAbdirahman Duale Beyle (Beileh): African Development Bank economist, Somalia's foreign minister 2014 to 2015, finance minister 2017 to 2022 during debt relief, and songwriter.
- Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro (Cabdiraxmaan Cirro)Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi 'Irro', born 1956: diplomat in Moscow, Somaliland speaker, Waddani leader and President since December 2024.
- Abdirahman Yabarow (Cabdiraxmaan Yabarow)Abdirahman Yabarow: Somali journalist, Editor-in-Chief of VOA Somali from 2009.
- Abdisalam Omer Hadliye (Cabdisalaan Cumar Hadliye)Abdisalam Omer Hadliye: Washington, D.C. finance official, Central Bank governor in 2013 during the UN 'slush fund' dispute, and Foreign Minister 2015 to 2017.
- Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur (Cabdulqaadir Maxamed Nuur)Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur: Speaker of the House of the People since August 2026, Defence Minister 2021 to 2025, and former acting head of NISA.
- Abdulkadir Yahya Ali (Cabdiqaadir Yaxye Cali)Abdulkadir Yahya Ali (1957-2005): founder of Mogadishu's Centre for Research and Dialogue, killed in 2005.
- Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Cabdulqawi Axmed Yuusuf)Abdulqawi Yusuf: Somali judge of the International Court of Justice 2009–2025 and its President 2018–2021.
- Abshir Omar Huruse (Abshir Cumar Xuruuse)Abshir Omar Huruse: Somalia's Foreign Minister 2022 to 2023 and a 2024 candidate for President of Puntland.
- Adan Ahmed Elmi "Dhoolayare" (Aadan Axmed Cilmi): businessman, film backer and Somaliland ministerAdan Ahmed Elmi (Dhoolayare): pre-war businessman, the film Ma Guuraan, a printing press for the state, Somaliland's agriculture minister, justice minister in 2010, and the Wadajir party.
- Ahmed Abdi Karie "Qoorqoor" (Axmed Cabdi Kaariye): president of Galmudug, 2020 to 2026Ahmed Abdi Karie (Qoorqoor), president of Galmudug 2020 to 2026: background in Hobyo and business, the 2020 handover, militias and Hobyo port, the oil well, the 2026 direct elections and his successor.
- Ahmed Duale Gelle "Haaf" (Axmed Ducaale Geele): businessman and president of Galmudug, 2017 to 2020Ahmed Duale Gelle (Haaf): economics graduate, businessman and federal MP, president of Galmudug 2017 to 2020, the 2017 election in Cadaado and the 2020 handover.
- Ahmed Ibrahim Awale (Axmed Ibraahim Cawaale)Ahmed Ibrahim Awale: Hargeisa environmentalist and botanist, discoverer of Aloe sanguinalis, author of Environment in Crisis.
- Ahmed Madobe (Axmed Madoobe), Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed IslamAhmed Madobe (born 1951): President of Jubaland since 2012/2013 and founder of the Raskamboni movement.
- Ahmed Mohamed Ali 'Kismayo' (Axmed Maxamed Cali Kismaayo)Ahmed Mohamed Kismayo (1964-2017): BBC Somali journalist and first director of Puntland TV and Radio.
- Ali Ahmed Abdi (Cali Axmed Cabdi)Ali Ahmed Abdi: Radio Gaalkacyo journalist shot dead in Galkayo.
- Ali Maow Maalin (Cali Maow Macallin)Ali Maow Maalin (1954–2013): Merca cook who was the world's last natural smallpox case in 1977, later a WHO polio vaccinator.
- Barkhad Awale Adan (Barkhad Cawaale Aadan)Barkhad Awale Adan (d. 2010): director of Radio Hurma, killed in Mogadishu fighting.
- Dileita Mohamed DileitaDileita Mohamed Dileita (born 1959): diplomat, Prime Minister of Djibouti 2001 to 2013, and later African Union envoy.
- Farah Ali Jama "Farah Ali Shire" (Faarax Cali Jaamac): Puntland finance minister, 2009 to 2014Farah Ali Jama (Farah Ali Shire): Puntland finance minister 2009 to 2014, the Kuwait Fund grant for Garowe airport and Maakhir University, his 2017 criticism of new 1,000-shilling notes, and three presidential runs.
- Halima Ahmed (Xaliimo Axmed)Halima Ahmed: Somali political activist who worked with defectors at Mogadishu's Youth Rehabilitation Center.
- Hamza Abdi Barre (Xamse Cabdi Barre)Hamza Abdi Barre: Prime Minister of Somalia since June 2022, educator and co-founder of Kismayo University.
- Harun Maruf (Haaruun Macruuf)Harun Maruf: VOA Somali journalist and co-author of Inside Al-Shabaab.
- Hassan Mohamed Hussein Mungab (Xasan Maxamed Xuseen Mungaab)Hassan Mungab: Mayor of Mogadishu 2014 to 2015 and since May 2025; former military court chair and State Minister of Justice.
- Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud)Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, born 1955: educator, SIMAD co-founder, President of Somalia 2012–2017 and again from 2022.
- Hindia Haji MohamedHindia Haji Mohamed (c.1988-2015): Radio Mogadishu journalist and SNTV producer killed by a car bomb in 2015.
- Ilwad Elman (Ilwaad Cilmaan)Ilwad Elman, born 1989: Elman Peace programme director, youth peace advocate and 2022 Right Livelihood laureate.
- Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (Ismaaciil Cumar Geelle)Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (born 1947): President of Djibouti since 1999, his years as chief of staff to Hassan Gouled Aptidon, and his six elections.
- Mohamed Abshir Waldo (Maxamed Abshir Waldo)Mohamed Abshir Waldo: Somali broadcaster, SSDF official, writer on remittances and piracy.
- Mohamed Aw-Ali Abdi (Maxamed Cali Aw Cabdi)Mohamed Aw-Ali Abdi: Vice President of Somaliland since December 2024 and Waddani's vice-presidential candidate in 2017 and 2024.
- Mohamed Bihi Yonis (Maxamed Bixi Yoonis)Mohamed Bihi Yonis: Somaliland's Foreign Minister 2013 to 2015 and former senior official of UN peacekeeping in Darfur and the Middle East.
- Mohamed Hersi Ahmed (Maxamed Xirsi Axmed)Mohamed Hersi Ahmed: Mayor of Burao since December 2023, a returnee from Sweden elected by the local council.
- Mohamud Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji (Maxamuud Siraaji)Mohamud Siraji: Jubaland MP in Somalia's House of the People from 2018, raised in Dadaab, chair of the budget and finance committee from December 2018.
- Muna Khalif (Muna Kay)Muna Khalif (Muna Kay): founder of the Um Lemar clothing brand and South West State MP in Somalia's House of the People since 2016.
- Mustafa Haji Abdinur (Mustafe Xaaji Cabdinuur)Mustafa Haji Abdinur: AFP's Somalia correspondent, CPJ Press Freedom Award winner (2009).
- Nasteh Dahir Farah (Nastax Daahir Faarax)Nasteh Dahir (1972-2008): BBC and AP correspondent killed in Kismayo, 2008.
- Saad Ali Shire (Saacad Cali Shire)Saad Ali Shire: Somaliland's Minister of Planning 2010 to 2015, Foreign Minister 2015 to 2018 and Finance Minister 2018 to 2024.
- Sadak Joon (Saadaq Cumar Xasan)Sadak Joon (Sadak Omar Hassan): former Banadir police commander removed in April 2021, elected Galmudug MP (seat 248) in January 2022.
- Said Abdullahi Deni (Saciid Cabdullaahi Deni)Said Abdullahi Deni (born 1967): President of Puntland since 2019, federal planning minister 2014 to 2017.
- Shire Haji Farah (Shire Xaaji Faarax): Dubai businessman and Puntland finance and planning ministerShire Haji Farah: businessman in Dubai, 2014 Puntland presidential candidate, finance minister 2014 to 2015, taxes on international organisations, planning minister 2015 to 2019, and the Qandala campaign of 2016.
- Yasin Haji Mohamoud "Faratoon" (Yaasiin Xaaji Maxamuud Faratoon)Yasin Haji Mohamoud "Faratoon": Speaker of Somaliland's House of Representatives since 2023 and Foreign Minister 2018 to 2021.
- Yusuf Garaad Omar (Yuusuf Garaad Cumar)Yusuf Garaad Omar (born 1960): head of the BBC Somali Service, ambassador to the United Nations, and Foreign Minister 2017 to 2018.
Public life today
All 43 pages in Public life today, from A to Z.
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