Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal

Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (Somali: Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal, Arabic: محمد الحاج ابراهيم ايغال‎) (born August 15, 1928 in Odweyne, British Somaliland - died May 3, 2002 in Pretoria, South Africa) was a Somali politician. He was the Prime Minister of Somalia during the early and late 1960s. He also served as President of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.^[1]

Early years

Egal was born in 1928 in the northwestern town of Odweyne, then a part of the British Somaliland protectorate. He hailed from a Habar Awal Isaaq family.

Career

Civilian administration

Left to right: Muriel Humphrey, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, First Lady Edna Adan, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Prime Minister Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, during an official visit to the United States.

Egal initially worked as an unofficial member of the former British Somaliland protectorate's Executive Council, and was the Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council. For five days in June 1960, he served as the Prime Minister of the briefly-extant State of Somaliland (the former British Somaliland) during its planned transition to union with the Trust Territory of Somalia (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic.^[2]

Following Somalia's independence on July 1, 1960, Egal served as the nation's first Prime Minister. He would later work in various positions in the early civilian administration.

Between 1960 and 1962, Egal was the national Minister of Defense (1960–1962). He subsequently served as Education Minister (1962–1963), Prime Minister (1967–1969), and Ambassador to India (1976–1978).

Shortly after the assassination of Somalia's then President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke on October 15, 1969, the newly-established Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) led by Major General Siad Barre, Lieutenant Colonel Salaad Gabeyre Kediye and Chief of Police Jama Korshel seized power.^[3] The SRC subsequently renamed the country the Somali Democratic Republic,^[4][5] arrested members of the former civilian government, banned political parties,^[6] dissolved the parliament and the Supreme Court, and suspended the constitution.^[7] Egal was among the politicians detained by the SRC for his prominent role in the nation's early government.

When the Barre regime eventually collapsed in 1991 with the start of the civil war, local leaders in northwestern Somalia unilaterally declared the region independent. Although Egal initially opposed their self-proclaimed secession, he was elected president of the new Somaliland polity two years later by a regional council of elders.

President of Somaliland

During his tenure as President of Somaliland, Egal managed to disarm local rebel groups, stabilized the northwestern Somaliland region's economy, and established informal trade ties with foreign countries. He also introduced the Somaliland shilling, passport and flag. In addition, Egal helped create the Somaliland army, one of the more effective armed forces in Somalia.

Death

Egal died in Pretoria, South Africa while undergoing surgery at a military hospital. His body was returned to Somalia for a state funeral, whereafter his three sons laid him to rest next to his father, in accordance with his last wishes. Around 4,000 mourners reportedly attended his burial in Berbera, and the regional parliament declared seven days of mourning. However, Somaliland flags did not fly at half-staff since the emblem on them includes the Shahadah, Islam's holiest words. ^[8]

References

External links

• IRIN Interview with Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, President of Somaliland

v t e Prime Ministers of Somalia Haji Ibrahim Egal • Ali Shermarke • Haji Hussein • Haji Ibrahim Egal • Farah Salad† • post abolished, 1970-87 • Ali Samatar • Hawadle Madar • Arteh Ghalib • vacant, 1997-2000 • Ali Khalif Galaydh • Jama Ali • Abshir Farah • Abdi Yusuf • Ali Ghedi • Salim Aliyow Ibrow • Nur Hussein • Ali Sharmarke • Elmi Gonjeh (Acting) • Abdullahi Farmajo • Mohamed Ali † military

v t e Presidents of Somaliland Tuur Egal Kahin Silanyo