President of Somalia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Federal Republic of Somalia
Flag of Somalia
Presidential Seal
Incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud since 23 May 2022
Style	Mr President (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Abbreviation	POTFROS, POS
Member of	National security council National Economic Council
Residence	Villa Somalia
Seat	Mogadishu
Appointer	Federal Parliament of Somalia
Term length	Four years
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Somalia
Formation	1 July 1960
First holder	Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Salary	$250,000 annually (2023)

The President of Somalia (Somali: Madaxaweynaha Soomaaliya) is the top leader of Somalia. This person is the head of state, meaning they represent the country. They are also the commander-in-chief of the Somali Armed Forces, which means they lead the military.

The president stands for the Federal Republic of Somalia and shows the unity of the Somali nation. They also make sure the Constitution of Somalia is followed. The president is chosen by the Federal Parliament of Somalia through an indirect election. The office of President was created on July 1, 1960. The first president was Aden Abdullah Osman Daar. Today, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is the 10th president.

History of Somalia's Presidents

The first president of Somalia was Aden Abdullah Osman Daar. He was a leader of the Somali Youth League (SYL). He became president on July 1, 1960, when Somalia became a republic.

Since then, several other people have held the office. These include Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, Mohamed Siad Barre, Ali Mahdi, Abdiqasim Salad, Abdullahi Yusuf, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed became president on January 31, 2009. He was elected in January 2009. His term ended in August 2012. This was when the country moved from a transitional government to a federal government.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office on September 16, 2012. He was elected in the 2012 Somali presidential election on September 10, 2012.

Becoming President: Rules and Elections

To become the president of Somalia, a person must meet certain requirements:

• They must be a Somali citizen and a Muslim.
• They must be at least 40 years old.
• They should have good knowledge or experience for the job.
• They must be mentally sound.
• They must not have been found guilty of a major crime by a court.

The election for president must start at least 30 days before the current president's term ends. If the presidency becomes empty, the election must start within 10 days. The whole election process must finish within 30 days. Candidates must announce their interest to the parliament within the first 10 days. The actual voting must happen in the remaining 20 days.

How Long Does a President Serve?

The president of Somalia serves for a term of four years. As of 2021, there is no limit on how many terms a president can serve. The current president stays in office until the new president officially takes over.

When a new president starts their job, they take an oath in front of the parliament. This oath is a promise to do their best for the country:

I swear in the name of Allah that I will perform my duties honestly and in the best interest of the Nation, People, and Religion and that I will abide by the Constitution and the other Laws of the Country.

What the President Does: Duties and Responsibilities

The president has many important jobs. Here are some of their main duties:

• They choose the prime minister.
• They lead the Somali Armed Forces as Commander-in-Chief.
• They can declare a state of emergency or war, following the law.
• They appoint and remove military commanders at the federal level. This happens after the Council of Ministers suggests it.
• They can dismiss ministers and deputy ministers if the prime minister suggests it.
• They sign new laws that the federal Parliament has passed.
• They open the meetings of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament.
• They hold a yearly meeting with the House of the People of the Federal Parliament.
• They appoint top judges, like the chairman of the Constitutional Court. This is done after the Judicial Service Commission suggests it.
• They appoint senior government officials and heads of federal institutions. This happens after the Council of Ministers suggests it.
• They appoint ambassadors to other countries. This is also done after the Council of Ministers suggests it.
• They welcome foreign diplomats and consuls to Somalia.
• They give out state honors and awards. This happens after the Council of Ministers suggests it.
• They can dissolve the House of the People of the Federal Parliament when its term ends. This leads to new elections.
• They can pardon people who have committed crimes or reduce their sentences. This is done after the Judicial Service Commission suggests it.
• They sign international agreements that the Council of Ministers suggests and the Parliament approves.

List of presidents of Somalia

Latest election

See also

Learn more about Somalia's presidents in Spanish!

• Somalia
  • Politics of Somalia
  • Prime Minister of Somalia
  • Vice President of Somalia
• Lists of office-holders