Hassan Sheikh Mohamud facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by their given name, Hassan, and not as Sheikh Mohamud.

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
حسن الشيخ محمود
Official portrait

8th and 10th President of Somalia
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 May 2022
Prime Minister	Hamza Abdi Barre Salah Jama
Preceded by	Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo
In office 16 September 2012 – 16 Februaryg 2017
Prime Minister	■ Abdi Farah Shirdon ■ Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed ■ Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke
Preceded by	Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
Succeeded by	Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo
1st Chairman of the Union for Peace and Development Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 October 2018
Succeeded by	Position Established
1st Chairman of the Peace and Development Party
In office 20 April 2011 – 4 October 2018
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Position Abolished

Personal details
Born	(1955-11-29) 29 November 1955 (age 69) Jalalaqsi, Trust Territory of Somaliland
Political party	Peace and Development Party (2011-2018) Union for Peace and Development Party (2018–present)
Spouses	Sahro Hassan Qamar Ali Omar
Children	9
Education	Somali National University Barkatullah University University for Peace (Ph.D.)

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somali: Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud; Arabic: حسن شيخ محمود; born 29 November 1955) is a Somali politician. He is currently serving as the president of Somalia since May 15, 2022. He was also president from 2012 to 2017.

Before becoming president, Hassan was a university professor and a dean at SIMAD University. He even helped start this university. In 2013, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. After his first time as president, he started the Union for Peace and Development Party.

Early Life and Education

Hassan was born in Jalalaqsi, a town in the central Hiiraan region of Somalia. He grew up in a middle-class family. He went to primary and secondary schools in his hometown.

In 1978, he moved to Mogadishu, the capital city. There, he studied at the Somali National University for three years. In 1981, he earned a diploma in technology.

Later, in 1986, Hassan traveled to India. He attended Barkatullah University (then called Bhopal University). He earned a master's degree in technical education in 1988. Hassan also studied at Eastern Mennonite University in the United States. He took courses in mediation and peacebuilding.

After he was elected president for his second term, the University for Peace shared that Hassan was working on his Ph.D. He successfully defended his doctoral paper in October 2022. This made him the first sitting Somali president to earn a Ph.D. in Peace, Governance and Development. Hassan is married to Qamar Ali Omar and has nine children.

Early Career and Politics

Hassan started his career as a teacher at Lafole Technical Secondary School. In 1984, he joined the Technical Teachers' Training College, which was part of the Somali National University. By 1986, he became the head of that department.

When the civil war began in the early 1990s, Hassan stayed in Somalia. He worked as a consultant for different groups, including NGOs and UN offices. From 1993 to 1995, he was an education officer for UNICEF in central and southern Somalia. In 1999, he helped create the Somali Institute of Management and Administration (SIMAD). This institute later became SIMAD University, where Hassan served as dean until 2010.

In 2011, Hassan entered politics. He founded the independent Peace and Development Party (PDP). In April 2011, members of the PDP chose him as their chairman. In August 2012, Hassan became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the new Federal Parliament of Somalia. Besides his work in education and public service, he is also a successful businessperson.

President of Somalia

First Term (2012-2017)

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at his presidential inauguration ceremony, September 2012.

On September 10, 2012, Hassan was elected President of Somalia. This happened during the country's presidential elections. He won against former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in the final round of voting.

Many countries welcomed Hassan's election. The UN Special Representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, called it a "great step forward on the path to peace." The AU also praised his selection and promised to support the new leadership.

Hassan officially became President of Somalia on September 16, 2012. On October 6, 2012, he chose Abdi Farah Shirdon as the new Prime Minister of Somalia.

Rebuilding and Progress

During Hassan's first term, Somalia made good progress in rebuilding after conflict. He focused on improving the economy, government, education, health, and infrastructure.

His government worked to make it easier for businesses to grow and attract investments. They also set up important government groups like the National Economic Council. Basic services like health and education were a high priority. Many projects were started, such as fixing the Mogadishu Port and airport, and rebuilding roads, schools, and hospitals. These efforts helped improve the lives of many Somalis.

National Reconciliation Efforts

Hassan's government worked to bring different parts of Somalia together.

In April 2013, he held talks with leaders from Somaliland in Ankara, Turkey. They agreed to share development aid fairly and work together on security.
In August 2013, the government signed an agreement with the Jubaland administration in Addis Ababa. This agreement helped set up an interim administration for Jubaland. It also planned to integrate Jubaland's forces into the Somali National Army (SNA).
In February 2015, Hassan met with leaders from Puntland, Jubaland, and South West State. They discussed how to continue rebuilding Somalia. In April and May 2015, they signed an agreement to add 3,000 troops from Puntland to the Somali National Army. They also agreed to include soldiers from other regions into the SNA.

Easing of Arms Embargo

Hassan's government worked to lift the UN arms embargo on Somalia. This ban had been in place for 21 years to stop weapons from reaching fighting groups. The government argued that lifting the ban would help strengthen the Somali Armed Forces. This would allow them to better fight against militant groups. Many countries, including the United States and the African Union, supported this idea.

In March 2013, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, asked the Security Council to remove the sanctions. In March 2014, the UN Security Council voted to partly ease the arms embargo until October of that year.

Youth Development

In August 2014, Hassan announced new projects to help Somalia's youth. He said his government would focus on giving young people more opportunities. This included creating a framework for youth empowerment, a university accreditation system, and programs to create jobs.

He also planned to:

Appoint two Youth Advisers to the President's Office.
Lower the minimum age for holding office to 18.
Assign young managers to lead Somalia's first national park.
Create jobs in marine management and fishing in coastal areas.
Support the growth of the Somali Film Council.

International Bank of Somalia

In October 2014, Hassan officially opened the International Bank of Somalia (IBS) in Mogadishu. This bank was started by a group of business people. It aims to provide international banking services and help develop Somalia's economy, especially in areas like livestock and agriculture.

Somali Language Regulation

In January 2015, Hassan announced that the Somali language would be used for all government documents. He said that foreign languages would only be used for talking with foreign representatives. He also mentioned that Somali is an important language and that no country can develop fully without valuing its own language.

He also announced plans for:

A new school curriculum with Somali as the main language.
Restoring monuments for national heroes.
Finishing renovations on the National Museum.
Working with Djibouti and Ethiopia to complete the Regional Somali Language Academy.

Judicial Service Commission

In March 2015, Hassan issued a decree to change the Judicial Service Commission. This was done to make sure the commission followed the country's Provisional Constitution.

Somali Disabled People Council

In March 2015, Hassan met with representatives from the Somali Disabled People Council (SDPC). He promised to create a government agency specifically for people with disabilities. This agency would help gather information and support disabled individuals. He also said the government would hold a national conference for people with disabilities.

Special Task Force on Remittances

In April 2015, Hassan and Prime Minister Sharmarke launched the Special Task Force on Remittances (STFR). This group's job is to help manage money transfers into Somalia. It aims to create a clear plan for the financial sector and ensure money transfers are transparent and follow international rules against money laundering.

National Tree Week

In April 2015, Hassan started National Tree Week in Mogadishu. He planted a tree to show the importance of plants for the environment. He announced that his government would start an environmental protection project as part of Somalia's rebuilding efforts. He encouraged everyone to plant as many trees as possible.

Foreign Policy

Cotonou Agreement

In June 2013, Somalia was allowed to join the Cotonou Agreement as an observer. This agreement is between the European Union and many countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. It helps promote development and reduce poverty. Full membership was planned for 2014. Hassan welcomed this decision, saying it would help Somalia's rebuilding process by making it eligible for EU development projects.

New Deal Compact for Reconstruction and Development

In November 2014, Hassan co-chaired an international conference in Copenhagen about the New Deal Compact for Reconstruction and Development. This meeting included representatives from over 140 countries. Hassan explained that the New Deal Compact was a plan led by Somalia itself. It aimed to create legal frameworks, reform institutions, and guide international aid to Somalia's most important areas.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

In January 2015, Hassan signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for Somalia. This is a very important global agreement on human rights for children. The Federal Parliament had already approved it in December 2014. By signing, Somalia promised to create child-friendly systems and policies. It also committed to working towards child development, protection, and participation.

Second Term (2022-Present)

On May 16, 2022, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected president again. He won the election against the previous president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo. After his election, he promised to bring stability back to Somalia.

On June 15, 2022, Hassan appointed Hamza Abdi Barre as the new Prime Minister of Somalia.

Honours

In April 2013, Hassan was named to the Time 100 list. This is TIME magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was recognized for his work in promoting national unity and reforms in Somalia.

Here are some of the awards Hassan has received:

Decoration	Country	Date	Note
Hilal-i-Imtiaz	Pakistan	18 August 2015	The second-highest civilian honour of Pakistan.
King Hamad Order of the Renaissance	Bahrain	17 January 2016	First Class, the third-highest civilian honour of Bahrain.
Order of King Abdulaziz	Saudi Arabia	24 October 2023	First Class, the highest civilian honour of Saudi Arabia awarded to foreign dignitaries.