# Said Abdullahi Deni (Saciid Cabdullaahi Deni)

> Said Abdullahi Deni (born 1967): President of Puntland since 2019, federal planning minister 2014 to 2017.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/said-abdullahi-deni/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who is he?

Said Abdullahi Deni is a Somali politician and businessman ([Wikipedia, Said Abdullahi Deni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)). He has been President of [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/) since 8 January 2019 (same source). Puntland is a federal member state in the north-east of Somalia (same source). This page covers his public role and takes no side in party politics.

## Early life

He was born on 2 July 1967 in Mogadishu ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)). His family is Majeerteen (Harti, Darod), of the Osman Mahamoud branch (same source). He studied at the Somali National University (same source). See [universities in Somalia](/en/society/universities-in-somalia/).

## Education work

Before office he became known in Puntland for his part in education ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)). He helped to set up schools and universities there (same source).

## Minister of Planning

On 17 January 2014 Prime Minister [Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed](/en/people/abdiweli-sheikh-ahmed/) named him Minister of Planning and International Cooperation ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)). In March 2014 he joined a government visit to Tokyo (same source). Japan then announced a 40 million dollar package for police, relief and jobs in Somalia (same source).

In September 2014 his ministry published a preliminary population estimate for Somalia ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)). It was the first such government count in over two decades (same source). The UN Population Fund helped with the work (same source). The early data suggested about 12.36 million residents (same source). He held the ministry until February 2017 (same source).

## President of Puntland

He ran for president of Somalia in 2017 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)). On 8 January 2019 the Puntland parliament elected him president (same source). He won 35 of 66 votes in the third round, against 31 for [Asad](/en/society/films-about-somalia/) Osman Abdullahi (same source). The outgoing president, [Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas](/en/people/abdiweli-gaas/), left the race in the first round ([Garowe Online, January 2019](https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/somalia-puntland-inaugurates-new-president)).

He was sworn in at the presidential palace in Garowe in late January 2019 (same source). President [Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo](/en/people/mohamed-abdullahi-farmaajo/) attended and called for "forgiveness and collaboration" between the federal government and the states (same source). Deni pledged to strengthen institutions, fight corruption and steady Puntland's economy (same source). On taking office he said: "A new chapter has opened for this state, a chapter of unity and brotherly relations among Somalis" ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)).

## Second term

He ran again for president of Somalia in 2022 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Said_Abdullahi_Deni)). Since 2020 he has led the Kaah political association (same source). On 8 January 2024 the Puntland parliament re-elected him with 45 of 66 votes (same source). See [the timeline from 2012 to 2026](/en/history/timeline-2012-to-2026/).

## In short

Federal Minister of Planning from 2014 to 2017 and President of Puntland since 2019.

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