Aden Adde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aden Adde
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Adde in the 1950's
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| 1st President of Somalia | |
| In office 1 July 1960 – 6 July 1967 |
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| Prime Minister | Abdirashid Ali Shermarke |
| Preceded by | Inaugural |
| Succeeded by | Abdirashid Ali Shermarke |
| Chairman of the National Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 29 February 1956 – 1 July 1960 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Hagi Bashir Ismail |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 December 1908 Beledweyne, Italian Somalia (now Somalia) |
| Died | 8 June 2007 (aged 98) Nairobi, Kenya |
| Nationality | Somali |
| Political party | Somali Youth League (SYL) |
Aden Abdulle Osman Daar (Somali: Aadan Cabdulle Cismaan Dacar, Arabic: آدم عبد الله عثمان دعر), known as Aden Adde, was a very important Somali politician. He was born on December 9, 1908, and passed away on June 8, 2007. He made history as the first president of the Somali Republic. He served from July 1, 1960, to July 6, 1967.
Before becoming president, Aden Adde was active in the Somali Youth League, a political group. He joined them in 1944. In 1946, he became the Secretary for the party in his hometown, Beledweyne, Somalia. Later, he was chosen for the Mudug Regional Council in 1951. He even became the Vice President of that council two years later. From 1954 to 1956, he was the President of the Somali Youth League. He was re-elected in 1958. He also led the Legislative Assembly until 1960.
Aden Adde was born in Beledweyne, Somalia. He went to government schools. He also worked to help organize his community. Somalia was once a colony of the Italian government. This means Italy controlled Somalia from 1889 to 1941. From 1929 to 1941, Aden Adde worked with the Italian Colonial Administration. He spoke up for Somalia's freedom from colonial rule. He strongly believed that all Somalis should be united.
In 1960, Aden Adde became very well-known across Somalia. The Somali people supported him. He was officially and fairly elected as Somalia's first president on July 1, 1960. On that same day, the United Nations agreed to Somalia's independence. Somalia then joined with the former British protectorate of British Somalia. British Somalia had already become independent on June 26, 1960. As president, Aden Adde focused on ending the old colonial ways. He also worked hard to bring all Somali people together.
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Early Life and Education
Aden Adde was born on December 9, 1908. His birthplace was Beledweyne, a town in the south-central Hiraan region of Somalia. He became an orphan at a young age, meaning he lost his parents early in life. Aden Adde loved to read. He taught himself a lot about many different topics. He could speak several languages, including Arabic, Somali, Italian, and English.
Political Journey
Joining the Somali Youth League
In 1944, Aden Adde joined the new Somali Youth League (SYL). This was a group of nationalists who wanted Somalia to be an independent country. He quickly moved up in the group. By 1946, he was the local secretary for the SYL in Beledweyne. Ten years later, he became the Chairman of the National Legislative Assembly. Two years after that, he even became the leader of the SYL itself.
Becoming President
When Somalia gained its independence in 1960, Aden Adde was a very famous national hero. Soon after, he was elected as the country's first President. He held this important job from 1960 to 1967.
In the 1967 presidential election, Aden Adde lost to Abdirashid Ali Shermarke. Shermarke had been his Prime Minister before. Aden Adde's time as president ended on July 6, 1967. He accepted his loss gracefully. This was a very important moment. He became the first head of state in Africa (besides Liberia) to peacefully give up power to a new leader who was chosen by the people. This showed how strong democracy was in Somalia at that time.
Sadly, Shermarke was killed two years later by one of his own bodyguards. After Shermarke's funeral, the Somali Army took control of the government. This happened on October 21, 1969, in a coup d'état. A coup d'état is when the military takes power by force. This takeover was led by Major General Siad Barre, who was the army commander at the time.
Working for Peace
In 1990, a civil war started in Somalia. During this time, Aden Adde, along with other Somali politicians, signed a special document called a manifesto. This manifesto showed their worry about the violence. It also asked for peace and for people to come together. Because of this, Aden Adde was arrested. He stayed in prison until Siad Barre's government finally fell apart the next year.
Later Years and Legacy
After he was released from prison, Aden Adde spent most of his later years on his farm. His farm was in Janale, a town in southern Somalia.
On May 22, 2007, there was a false report that he had died in a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. However, he was still alive but in very serious condition. Aden Adde passed away in the hospital on June 8, 2007. He was 98 years old.
The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, led by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, announced 21 days of mourning for him. They held a national memorial service. They also said that Aden Adde would receive a state funeral, which is a special funeral for important leaders. To honor him, they renamed Mogadishu International Airport to Aden Adde International Airport.
President Adde lived longer than any other Somali President.
See also
In Spanish: Aden Abdullah Osman Daar para niños
- Osman Aden Abdulle
- Somali Youth League
- Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf
- Osman Aden Abdulle
