Abdiqasim Salad Hassan
Encyclopedia
Dr Abdiqasim Salad Hassan (born 1941) is a prominent Somali
politician. He was President of Somalia from 2001 to 2004, and previously served as Interior Minister and Finance Minister in the government of Mohamed Siad Barre.
in the north-central mudug
province of Somalia
. He pursued his post-secondary education in the USSR, graduating in 1965 from the Biology Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University.
He is from the Habar Gidir
sub-clan of the Hawiye
centered in Mogadishu
, and has a brother named Abdi Salad Hassan who is also active in Somali politics.
(NSS), the Investigative Department of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
, the police, and the Deputy Prime Ministership.
After Barre's ouster in 1991 and the outbreak of the Somali Civil War
, Hassan left for Cairo
.
s.
In 2001, he participated in and won elections to become the President of Somalia. For the next three years, Hassan resided and worked in exile in Djibouti
while still assuming leadership of the country, as Somalia was too unsafe for him to live in.
expired in August 2003, Hassan withdrew from talks aimed at forming a new government. Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah accused him of trying to make the talks fail to extend his time in office. This resulted in Farah's dismissal by Hassan. However, Hassan pledged to step aside to make way for a constitutionally-elected leader. Although he was a candidate for the presidency of the new national unity government, Hassan was not among the three candidates who passed the first round of voting. He left office peacefully several days after the election.
, Hassan has rallied for a safer Somalia. He takes part in numerous events in and around Somalia where he talks to his fellow countrymen about how they can change their nation for the better.
He now divides his time between Somalia, Egypt and Kenya.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
politician. He was President of Somalia from 2001 to 2004, and previously served as Interior Minister and Finance Minister in the government of Mohamed Siad Barre.
Biography
Hassan was born in the town of GaddoGaddo
Gaddo is a Florentine variation of the Italian given name Gerardo .-Famous persons with the given name Gaddo:#Gaddo Gaddi Florentine painter and mosaicist...
in the north-central mudug
Mudug
Mudug is an administrative region in north-central Somalia. Bordered by the Ogaden, the Somalian regions of Nugaal and Galguduud, and the Indian Ocean, its capital is the city of Galkacyo.-Districts:...
province of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. He pursued his post-secondary education in the USSR, graduating in 1965 from the Biology Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University.
He is from the Habar Gidir
Habar Gidir
The Habar Gidir are a Somali clan, part of the larger Hawiye group.The clan has produced some prominent Somali figures, such as Abdullahi Issa, the chairman of the Somali Youth League and first Prime Minister of Somalia prior to independence, Dr...
sub-clan of the Hawiye
Hawiye
The Hawiye is a Somali clan. Members of the clan primarily live in central and southern Somalia, in the Ogaden and the North Eastern Province , and in smaller numbers in other countries. Like many Somalis, Hawiye members trace their ancestry to Irir Samaale...
centered in Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, and has a brother named Abdi Salad Hassan who is also active in Somali politics.
Interior Minister of Somalia
A key founder of Somalia's Suhl (reconciliation) group of which former Foreign Minister Abdirahman Jama Barre was also a part, Hassan has held several important positions in the Somali government, most notably as Siad Barre's last Interior Minister. As such, Hassan was responsible for all internal security agencies including the National Security ServiceNational Security Service (Somalia)
The National Security Service was the primary intelligence service of the government of Siad Barre and the bedrock of its repressive internal security apparatus, existing from 1970 until 1990 when it was formally abolished.- Organization and structure :...
(NSS), the Investigative Department of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party was the governing political party in Somalia from 1976 to 1991.- History :XHKS was created by the military regime of Siad Barre under Soviet guidance. A founding congress was held in June 1976. The congress elected a Central Committee, with Barre as the...
, the police, and the Deputy Prime Ministership.
After Barre's ouster in 1991 and the outbreak of the Somali Civil War
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
, Hassan left for Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
.
1991-2001
After 1991, Hassan's government controlled parts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, with the rest of the country being under the control of various warlordWarlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
s.
In 2001, he participated in and won elections to become the President of Somalia. For the next three years, Hassan resided and worked in exile in Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
while still assuming leadership of the country, as Somalia was too unsafe for him to live in.
Post-2001
Shortly before the mandate of the Transitional National GovernmentTransitional National Government
The Transitional National Government of Somalia was established in April–May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Djibouti....
expired in August 2003, Hassan withdrew from talks aimed at forming a new government. Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah accused him of trying to make the talks fail to extend his time in office. This resulted in Farah's dismissal by Hassan. However, Hassan pledged to step aside to make way for a constitutionally-elected leader. Although he was a candidate for the presidency of the new national unity government, Hassan was not among the three candidates who passed the first round of voting. He left office peacefully several days after the election.
Personal life
Since losing the presidential elections of 2004 to Abdullahi Yusuf AhmedAbdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is a veteran Somali politician. He is one of the founders of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, as well as the Puntland State of Somalia, where he served as the autonomous region's first President...
, Hassan has rallied for a safer Somalia. He takes part in numerous events in and around Somalia where he talks to his fellow countrymen about how they can change their nation for the better.
He now divides his time between Somalia, Egypt and Kenya.