President of the Republic of Somaliland | |
---|---|
Madaxweynaha Soomaaliland ( Somali) | |
Style |
His Excellency Mr. President |
Type | |
Member of | Cabinet of Somaliland |
Residence | Presidential Palace |
Seat | Hargeisa |
Appointer | Direct election |
Term length | 5 years, renewable once |
Constituting instrument | Constitution of Somaliland |
Formation | 28 May 1991 |
First holder | Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur |
Deputy | Vice President of Somaliland |
Website | Official website |
The president of Somaliland ( Somali: Madaxweynaha Soomaaliland; Arabic: رئيس جمهورية أرض الصومال, romanized: Rayiys jumhuriat 'ard alsuwmal) is the head of state and head of government of Somaliland. The president is also commander-in-chief of the Somaliland Armed Forces. The president represents the Government of Somaliland.
The first president of Somaliland was Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur. The current office-holder is the 5th president Muse Bihi Abdi, who took office on 13 December 2017. The President can serve a maximum of two five-year terms. The Republic of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the former British Somaliland Protectorate, which was an independent country for a few days in 1960 as the State of Somaliland. [1] [2] [3]
The first president of Somaliland was Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur, one of the leaders of the Somali National Movement (SNM), who took office on 7 June 1991, weeks after Somaliland was declared a republic. Since then the office has been held by four further people: Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, Dahir Riyale Kahin, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud, and Muse Bihi Abdi. [4] [5]
By Article 82 of the Constitution of Somaliland, a person shall be eligible for the office of President or Vice President if (a) he is a citizen of Somaliland by birth, and, notwithstanding residence as a refugee in another country, must not hold any other citizenship; (b) he must be a Muslim, and must behave in accordance with Islamic religion; (c) he must be at least 40 years of age; and (d) he fulfills other criteria set out in this Article. [6] [7]
One Somaliland president has died in office: