Ibrahim Egal
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (born August 15, 1928 in Odweyne
, British Somaliland
- died May 3, 2002 in Pretoria
, South Africa
) was a Somali
politician. He was president
(from 1993) of the self-proclaimed but internationally unrecognized Republic of Somaliland
in northern Somalia
. He established an island of relative stability in war-torn Somalia but failed to win international recognition for his region as an independent state.
family. He hails from the north western region of Somalia.
In June 1960 Egal was Prime minister
of the newly independent State of Somaliland
, which merged five days later with the former Italian Trust Territory to form Somalia
. He served as Somalia's defense minister (1960–1962), Education Minister (1962–1963), Prime minister
(1967–1969), and ambassador to India
(1976–1978), although he was imprisoned twice under Barre dictatorship. When the Somali Democratic Republic
collapsed in 1991, Somaliland unilaterally declared independent status; although he initially opposed its secession, two years later Egal was elected president by a council of Elders.
, successfully managed to establish bilateral trade with foreign countries, introduce Somaliland new currency the Somaliland shilling
, as well as the Somaliland passport and Somaliland national flag and creating the most successful and powerful armed police and military force in Somalia.
, South Africa
while undergoing surgery at a military hospital. His three sons laid him to rest next to his father in accordance with his last wishes. He was buried at the port city of Berbera
. He was given a state funeral
in which around 4,000 Somalis mourned and attended the service. Dahir Riyale Kahin
was inaugurated as the new leader after Egal's death. During which, the parliament declared seven days of mourning, however flags
were not flying at half-staff because the emblem includes the Shahadah, Islam
's holiest words.
|-
|-
|-
Togdheer
Togdheer is an administrative region in northwestern Somalia. It lies in the territory of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.-Overview:...
, British Somaliland
British Somaliland
British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the northern part of present-day Somalia. For much of its existence, British Somaliland was bordered by French Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland. From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa...
- died May 3, 2002 in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) was a Somali
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
politician. He was president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
(from 1993) of the self-proclaimed but internationally unrecognized Republic of Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
in northern 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 established an island of relative stability in war-torn Somalia but failed to win international recognition for his region as an independent state.
Biography
Egal was born in Somalia in 1928 to a Habar Awal IsaaqIsaaq
The Isaaq is one of the main Somali clans. Members of the clan principally live in the northwestern Somaliland region of Somalia, and the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The populations of five major cities of Somaliland – Hargeisa, Burco, Berbera, Ceerigaabo and Gabiley – are predominantly Isaaq...
family. He hails from the north western region of Somalia.
Parliamentary offices
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the newly independent State of Somaliland
State of Somaliland
The State of Somaliland was a short-lived independent state in the territory of modern-day Somalia.-History:In May 1960, the British Government stated that it would be prepared to grant independence to the then protectorate of British Somaliland, with the intention that the territory would unite...
, which merged five days later with the former Italian Trust Territory to form 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 served as Somalia's defense minister (1960–1962), Education Minister (1962–1963), Prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
(1967–1969), and ambassador to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(1976–1978), although he was imprisoned twice under Barre dictatorship. When the Somali Democratic Republic
Somali Democratic Republic
The Somali Democratic Republic was the name that the communist regime of former President of Somalia Major General Mohamed Siad Barre gave to Somalia after seizing power during a bloodless coup d'état in 1969...
collapsed in 1991, Somaliland unilaterally declared independent status; although he initially opposed its secession, two years later Egal was elected president by a council of Elders.
Presidential tenure
Egal managed to disarm rebel groups, stabilized the north western region and economy of SomalilandSomaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, successfully managed to establish bilateral trade with foreign countries, introduce Somaliland new currency the Somaliland shilling
Somaliland shilling
The Somaliland shilling is the official currency of Somaliland, a de facto independent republic which is recognized as a part of Somalia. It was introduced on 18 October 1994 at one new Somaliland shilling to 100 Somali shillings...
, as well as the Somaliland passport and Somaliland national flag and creating the most successful and powerful armed police and military force in Somalia.
Death
Egal died in PretoriaPretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
while undergoing surgery at a military hospital. His three sons laid him to rest next to his father in accordance with his last wishes. He was buried at the port city of Berbera
Berbera
Berbera is a city and seat of Berbera District in Somaliland, a self-proclaimed Independent Republic with de facto control over its own territory, which is recognized by the international community and the Somali Government as a part of Somalia...
. He was given a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
in which around 4,000 Somalis mourned and attended the service. Dahir Riyale Kahin
Dahir Riyale Kahin
Dahir Rayale Kahin was the third President of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as a part of Somalia. He became the third president of Somaliland on May 3, 2002, after the death of Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal...
was inaugurated as the new leader after Egal's death. During which, the parliament declared seven days of mourning, however flags
Flag of Somaliland
The current flag of Somaliland was introduced on October 14, 1996, when it was approved by the National Conference. Somaliland is a de facto independent republic which is recognized as a part of Somalia...
were not flying at half-staff because the emblem includes the Shahadah, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
's holiest words.
External links
|-
|-
|-