The president of Somaliland (Somali: Madaxweynaha Soomaaliland; Arabic: رئيس جمهورية أرض الصومال, romanized: Rayiys jumhuriat 'ard alsuwmal) is the head of state and head of government of Somaliland. The president is also commander-in-chief of the Somaliland Armed Forces. The president represents the Government of Somaliland.
| President of the Republic of Somaliland | |
|---|---|
| Madaxweynaha Soomaaliland (Somali) | |
 Presidential seal | |
 Flag of the President of Somaliland | |
.jpg) | |
| Style | His Excellency Mr. President |
| Type | |
| Member of | Cabinet of Somaliland |
| Residence | Presidential Palace |
| Seat | Hargeisa |
| Appointer | Direct election |
| Term length | 5 years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Somaliland |
| Formation | 28 May 1991 |
| First holder | Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur |
| Deputy | Vice President of Somaliland |
| Website | Official website |
The first president of Somaliland was Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur. The current office-holder is the 5th president Muse Bihi Abdi, who took office on 13 December 2017. The President can serve a maximum of two five-year terms. The Republic of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the former British Somaliland Protectorate, which was an independent country for a few days in 1960 as the State of Somaliland.[1][2][3]
History
edit
The first president of Somaliland was Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur, one of the leaders of the Somali National Movement (SNM), who took office on 7 June 1991, weeks after Somaliland was declared a republic. Since then the office has been held by four further people: Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, Dahir Riyale Kahin, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud, and Muse Bihi Abdi.[4][5]
Eligibility
editBy Article 82 of the Constitution of Somaliland, a person shall be eligible for the office of President or Vice President if (a) he is a citizen of Somaliland by birth, and, notwithstanding residence as a refugee in another country, must not hold any other citizenship; (b) he must be a Muslim, and must behave in accordance with Islamic religion; (c) he must be at least 40 years of age; and (d) he fulfills other criteria set out in this Article.[6] [7]
List of presidents of Somaliland
editDeath in office
editOne Somaliland president has died in office:
- Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, who died on 3 May 2002 aged 73.
Latest election
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Somaliland Marks Independence After 73 Years of British Rule" (fee required). The New York Times. 1960-06-26. p. 6. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "How Britain said farewell to its Empire". BBC News. 23 July 2010.
- ^ 37. Somalia/Somaliland (1960-present).
- ^ AfricaNews (2017-12-13). "Somaliland hailed as it swears in new president". Africanews. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
- ^ "Abiy holds talks with President of Somaliland Administration". Nazret. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ name=Constitution>*The Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland and in Somaliland Official Gazette Archived 20 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Making the Somaliland constitution and its role in democratisation and peace". Conciliation Resources. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2020.