President of Somaliland
The president of Somaliland (Somali: Madaxweynaha Somaliland) is the head of state and head of government of Somaliland. There is no prime minister. The president is also commander-in-chief of the Somaliland Armed Forces. The president represents the Government of Somaliland. The first president of Somaliland was Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur. The current office-holder is the 5th president Muse Bihi Abdi, since 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]
President of the Republic of Somaliland Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland رئيس جمهورية أرض الصومال | |
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Style | His Excellency Mr. President |
Status | |
Member of | Cabinet of Somaliland |
Residence | Presidential Palace - Qasriga Madaxtooyada JSL |
Seat | Hargeisa (1991–present) |
Appointer | Direct election |
Term length | Two consecutive 5-year terms |
Constituting instrument | Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland |
Formation | 28 May 1991 |
First holder | Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur as the first President in 1991 |
Deputy | Vice President of Somaliland |
Website | madaxtooyadajsl |
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This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Somaliland |
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History

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
A person shall be eligible for the office of President or Vice President, if he is a citizen of Somaliland by birth, and, not with standing residence as a refugee in another country. He must not hold any other citizenship, he must be a Muslim, and must behave in accordance with Islamic religion. He must be a citizen of Somaliland by birth, at least 40 years of age, is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party.[6] [7]
List of presidents of Somaliland
Death in office
One Somaliland president has died in office:
- Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, who died on 3 May 2002 aged 73.
Living former presidents
As of September 2020, there are two living former presidents of Somaliland, as seen below.
- Living former presidents of Somaliland
The most recent president to die was Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur (served 28 May 1991 – 16 May 1993), on 8 November 2003, at the age of 72. [8]
Latest election
References
- "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.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-06-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)