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 (2012)
Formation	1 July 1960; 65 years ago (1960-07-01)
First holder	Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
Salary	$250,000 annually (2023)

The president of Somalia (Somali: Madaxaweynaha Soomaaliya) is the country's head of state. This means the president is the main leader and representative of Somalia. The president is also the top commander of the Somali Armed Forces, which are the country's military forces.

The president represents the Federal Republic of Somalia. They also stand for the unity of the Somali nation. A key job is making sure the Constitution of Somalia is followed. They also ensure that all parts of the government work well together. The president of Somalia is chosen by the Federal Parliament of Somalia through an indirect election.

The role of President of Somalia began on July 1, 1960. This was the day Somalia became a republic. The first president was Aden Abdullah Osman Daar. The current president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is the 10th person to hold this important office.

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, eight other people have served as president.

These presidents include Abdirashid Ali Shermarke and Mohamed Siad Barre. Others were Ali Mahdi Mohamed, Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, and Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. Later came Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Some people also acted as president for short times. For example, Sheikh Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein was acting president after Shermarke's death.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed became president on January 31, 2009. He was elected in a special election that month. His time as president ended in August 2012. This was when Somalia's temporary government finished its work. The new federal government then began. General Muse Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle took over as a temporary president.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud started his term on September 16, 2012. He was elected in the 2012 Somali presidential election on September 10, 2012. He was re-elected in 2022.

Who Can Be President?

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

• They must be a citizen of Somalia and a Muslim.
• They must be at least 40 years old.
• They need to have good knowledge or experience for the job.
• They must be mentally sound.
• They must not have been found guilty of a serious 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. People who want to be president must tell 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 is chosen for a four-year term. 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 is ready to start. When a new president takes office, they make an important promise to the parliament:

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.

This promise means they will do their best for Somalia and follow its laws.

What Does the President Do?

The president of Somalia has many important jobs and responsibilities:

• They choose the prime minister for the country.
• They are the Commander-in-Chief of the Somali Armed Forces. This means they lead the military.
• They can declare a state of emergency or war if needed, following the law.
• They appoint and remove military commanders at the federal level. This happens after the Council of Ministers recommends it.
• They can remove ministers and deputy ministers if the prime minister suggests it.
• They sign new laws that the federal Parliament has passed.
• They officially open 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 the heads of the Constitutional Court and High Court. They also appoint other federal judges. This is done after the Judicial Service Commission recommends them.
• They appoint important federal government officials and leaders of federal institutions. This happens after the Council of Ministers recommends them.
• They appoint ambassadors and high commissioners to other countries. This is also done after the Council of Ministers recommends them.
• They welcome foreign diplomats and consuls to Somalia.
• They give out state honors, like awards, based on the Council of Ministers' advice.
• 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 recommends it.
• They sign international agreements with other countries. These agreements are suggested by the Council of Ministers and approved by the House of the People of the Federal Parliament.

List of Presidents

Latest Election

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes de Somalia para niños

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