Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo

Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo (Somali: Axmed Maxamuud Siilaanyo, Arabic: احمد محمد محمود سيلانيو‎) (born 1936) is a Somali politician. He is the current President of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia. Standing as an opposition candidate, Silanyo was elected to office during the region's 2010 presidential election.^[1]

Biography

Early years

Silanyo was born in 1936 in the northwestern town of Burao, situated in the former British Somaliland protectorate. His family is from the Isaaq clan and of middle class, trading background. He attended school locally during his early years.

Education

Between 1946 and 1947, Silanyo studied at boarding schools in Sheekh and Amud, where he completed his secondary levels. Upon graduation, he moved to England to pursue higher studies. From 1958 to 1960, Silanyo enrolled in the London University and worked toward an advanced General Certificate of Education (GCE). He then studied at the University of Manchester, where he earned both a Bachelor's Degree (1960-63) and a Master's Degree (1963-65) in Economics.^[2]

Political career

General

In a professional capacity, between 1965 and 1969, Silanyo served as an official at the Ministry of Planning and Coordination in Mogadishu during Somalia's early civilian administration. He was also the national Minister of Planning and Coordination (1969–1973), the Minister of Commerce (1973–1978 and 1980–1982), and the Chairman of the National Economic Board (1978–1980) in the succeeding socialist government. From 1982 to 1990, Silanyo was the Chairman of the Somali National Movement, serving as that opposition group's longest-serving chairman. Between 1993 to 1997, he was a member of the House of Representatives of Somaliland. He also worked as the Somaliland region's Minister of Finance from 1997 to 1999, in which position he initiated a program of fiscal reform. Between 1999 and 2000, Silanyo served as Somaliland's Minister of Planning and Coordination, a position from which he resigned in 2001.^[3]

President of Somaliland

In 2010, Silanyo ran for office in the Somaliland presidential election. As the head of the Kulmiye (Solidarity) party, he won 49.59% of all votes cast, making him the fourth President of Somaliland. The ruling UDUB party of incumbent President Dahir Riyale Kahin managed a total of 33.23% of the votes. Faysal Ali Warabe's For Justice and Development party finished third with 17.18% of votes.^[4]

Notes

v t e Presidents of Somaliland Tuur Egal Kahin Silanyo

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