Women who led

Zamzam Dahir Mohamud (Zamzam Daahir Maxamuud)

Zamzam Dahir Mohamud is a senator for Galmudug in the Upper House of Somalia's Federal Parliament. In October 2016 she was reported as the first woman elected to the new 54-seat Upper House, and she is on the Upper House's list of senators of the 11th Parliament.

Last checked 2026-11-13 9 sources Reading time: 2 min

Zamzam Dahir MohamudZamzam Daahir Maxamuud · Zamzam Dahir Mohamoud

Known as one of
Women who led
Era
Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
9 sources

Who is she?

Zamzam Dahir Mohamud is a Somali politician who represents Galmudug state in the Upper House (Aqalka Sare) of the Federal Parliament (Upper House of Somalia, member page). The Upper House's list of senators of the 11th Parliament names her, as "Zamzam Daahir Maxamuud", among Galmudug's eight senators (Upper House, Senators of the 11th Parliament). See Members of Somalia's Federal Parliament.

First woman elected to the Upper House

The Upper House was created in 2016, with 54 seats shared among the federal member states rather than by clan (Wikipedia, Federal Parliament of Somalia). Its first members were elected from 10 October 2016 (Wikipedia, 2016 Somali parliamentary election).

On 18 October 2016 the news site This Is Africa reported that she had become the first woman elected to the new 54-member Upper House, representing Galmudug (This Is Africa, "Zamzam Dahir Mohamud becomes first woman elected Senator", 18 October 2016). The same report noted that Jawahir Ahmed Elmi became the second woman elected to the Upper House for Galmudug (same source). Radio Dalsan reported on the opening of the Upper House elections that week (Radio Dalsan, 16 October 2016). Wikipedia's article on her dates the milestone to 2023 instead (Wikipedia, Zamzam Dahir Mohamud).

The 11th Parliament

In August 2021 Galmudug elected six senators for the 11th Parliament, two of them women, under Somalia's 30% quota for women in parliament (Hiiraan Online, "Galmudug state elects six senators including two women"; Somali Dispatch, 12 August 2021). The Upper House's own list places her among Galmudug's senators of that parliament, which was sworn in on 14 April 2022 (Wikipedia, Federal Parliament of Somalia). Her name is also in Wikipedia's list of the Upper House as of 2017 (Members of the 10th Federal Parliament).

In short

A Galmudug senator, reported in 2016 as the first woman elected to Somalia's Upper House, and still sitting in the 11th Parliament.

Sources

  1. Upper House of Somalia, member page · senate.gov.so
  2. Upper House, Senators of the 11th Parliament · senate.gov.so
  3. Wikipedia, Federal Parliament of Somalia · en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, 2016 Somali parliamentary election · en.wikipedia.org
  5. This Is Africa, "Zamzam Dahir Mohamud becomes first woman elected Senator", 18 October 2016 · thisisafrica.me
  6. Radio Dalsan, 16 October 2016 · radiodalsan.com
  7. Wikipedia, Zamzam Dahir Mohamud · en.wikipedia.org
  8. Hiiraan Online, "Galmudug state elects six senators including two women" · hiiraan.com
  9. Somali Dispatch, 12 August 2021 · somalidispatch.com

Zamzam Dahir MohamudZamzam Daahir Maxamuud · Zamzam Dahir Mohamoud

Known as one of
Women who led
Era
Who holds power, 2012 to now
Sources
9 sources

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