List of Somalis

Academics

Ali A. Abdi – Somali sociologist and educationist, and professor of education and international development at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada; former President of the Comparative and International Education Society of Canada (CIESC); founding editor of the peer reviewed online publications, Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education and Cultural and Pedagogical Inquiry

Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi – scholar, linguist and writer; published on Somali culture, history, language and ethnogenesis

Ali Jimale Ahmed – poet, essayist, scholar, and short story writer; published on Somali history and linguistics

Shire Jama Ahmed (b. c. 1935) – linguist who devised a unique Latin script for the Somali language

Abdi Kusow – associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa; has written extensively on Somali sociology and anthropology

Mohamed Haji Mukhtar – professor of African and Middle Eastern History at Savannah State University; has written extensively on the history of Somalia and the Somali language

Ismail Jim'ale Osoble – lawyer, once served as Minister of Information in the government of Aden Abdullah Osman Daar

Abdi Ismail Samatar – prominent scholar and professor at the University of Minnesota

Ahmed Ismail Samatar – prominent professor and Dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College; editor of Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies

Said Sheikh Samatar (1943–2015) – prominent scholar and writer and former professor of History at Rutgers University; main areas of interest are history and linguistics

Activists

Abdulkadir Yahya Ali,(1957 –2005) peace activist, co-director and founder of the Center for Research and Dialogue.

Dekha Ibrahim Abdi (1964–2011) – peace activist in Kenya

Leila Abukar – political activist

Fartuun Adan – social activist; founder and Executive Director of the Elman Peace Centre

Elman Ali Ahmed – entrepreneur and social activist

Halima Ahmed – political activist with the Youth Rehabilitation Center in Mogadishu

Hodan Ahmed – political activist and Senior Program Officer at the National Democratic Institute

Ifrah Ahmed – social activist; founder of the UYI NGO

Nimco Ahmed – Somali-American political activist; State Director for the DFL

Abdirizak Bihi – social activist; Director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center

Ilwad Elman – social activist at the Elman Peace Centre

Asha Haji Elmi (Caasha Xaaji Cilmi) (b. 1962) – peace activist in Somalia

Leyla Hussein – psychotherapist and social activist; Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven; co-founder of Daughters of Eve

Ahmed Hussen – Somali-Canadian lawyer and social activist; President of the Canadian Somali Congress

Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim – Somali social activist

Hanan Ibrahim – social activist based in the UK; founder of the Somali Family Support Group (SFSG)

Hirsi Magan Isse (Xirsi Magan Ciise) (1935–2008) – activist, scholar and one of the leading figures of the Somali Revolution

Fatima Jibrell (b. 1947) – Somali-American environmental activist; co-founder and executive director of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization ("Horn Relief"); co-founder of Sun Fire Cooking; was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Coalition for Peace

Hawa Aden Mohamed – social activist; chairperson of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development

Musse Olol – American social activist and Chairman of the Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO)

Hibaaq Osman – political strategist; chairperson of the ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, and El-Karama

Hawo Tako (d. 1948) – early 20th century female nationalist whose sacrifice became a symbol for pan-Somalism

Mohamud Siad Togane (b. 1943) – Somali Canadian poet, professor, and political activist

Shadya Yasin – Somali-Canadian social activist and member of the Ontario Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities

Architects

Alexander Yusuf – Somali-British architect; founder and Director of Villa and Mansion Architects

Artists

Sulekha Ali – Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter

Amin Amir – Somali-Canadian cartoonist and painter

Saba Anglana – Somali-Italian actress and international singer

Guduuda 'Arwo – singer

Jonis Bashir – Somali-Italian actor and singer

Elisa Kadigia Bove – Somali-Italian actress and activist

Ali Feiruz (1931–1994) – musician; one of the first generation of Somali artists; prominent member of Hobolada Waaberi musical troupes

Mohamed Nuur Giriig – traditional singer

Siham and Iman Hashi – Somali-Canadian pop duo

Abdi Bashir Indhobuur – poet and songwriter

K'naan (b. 1978) – Somali-Canadian hip hop artist

Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (d. 1984) – artist from the Radio Hargeisa generation

Aar Maanta – singer, composer, songwriter and music producer

Magool (1948-2004) (Halima Khaliif Omar) – considered in Somalia as one of the greatest entertainers of all time

Mocky (Dominic Salole) (b. 1974) – Somali-Canadian pop music performer

Hassan Sheikh Mumin (1930/31-2008) – poet, reciter, playwright, broadcaster, actor and composer

Maryam Mursal (b. 1950) – musician, composer and vocalist whose work has been produced by the record label Real World

Jiim Sheikh Muumin – singer and instrumentalist

A'maal Nuux – Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter

Khadija Qalanjo – singer and folklore dancer in the 1970s and 1980s

Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994) – musician, poet and playwright known for his innovative styles of music which included a wide variety of musical instruments such as the guitar, piano, and oud

Marian Joan Elliott Said (Poly Styrene) (1957–2011) – pioneering Somali-British punk rock singer with X-Ray Spex

Hasan Adan Samatar (b. 1953) – artist during the 1970s and 80s

Sherissa – singer-songwriter

Abdi Sinimo (b. 1920s) – artist and inventor of the Balwo musical style

Waaberi – Somalia's foremost musical group; toured throughout several countries in Africa and Asia, including Egypt, Sudan and China

Waayaha Cusub – music collective led by Falis Abdi

Athletes

Omar Mohamed (b. 1996) - professional footballer for FC Cincinnati in the USL

Liban Abdi (b. 1988) – international footballer; currently plays for Ferencvárosi TC in the Hungarian First Division, on loan from Sheffield United of England

Mohamed Deq Abdulle – taekwondo practitioner

Mohammed Ahamed (b. 1985) – Somali-Norwegian – Canadian Olympian in 2012, Nike-sponsored athlete

Amin Askar (b. 1985) – Somali-Norwegian professional football player, playing for Fredrikstad FK in the Norwegian Premier League

Faisal Jeylani Aweys – taekwondo practitioner

Zahra Bani (b. 1979) – Somali-Italian javelin thrower

Abdi Bile (b. 1962) – world champion middle distance runner in the 1500 metres, and three time Olympian

Ayub Daud (b. 1990) – international footballer who plays as a forward/attacking midfielder for A.S. Gubbio 1910, on loan from Juventus

Mo Farah (b. 1983) – Somali-British gold medalist in international track and field; currently holds the British indoor record in the 3000 metre and won the 3000 m at the 2009 European Indoor Championships in Turin

Abdisalam Ibrahim (b. 1991) – Somali-Norwegian footballer who plays for Manchester City; Premier League's first Somali player and also the first East African

Mohamed Jama – kickboxer

Fabio Liverani (b. 1976) – Somali-Italian international footballer

Mohamed Malimey – UK-based Somali football coach and former player

Mustafa Mohamed (b. 1979) – Somali-Swedish long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase; won gold in the 2006 Nordic Cross Country Championships and at the first SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal in 2009; beat the 31-year-old Swedish record in 2007

Authors

Maxamed Daahir Afrax – novelist and playwright; has published several novels and short stories in Somali and Arabic languages; has written two plays, the first being Durbaan Been ah ("A Deceptive Dream"), which was staged in Somalia in 1979; his major contribution in the field of theatre criticism is Somali Drama: Historical and Critical Study (1987)

Ahmed Farah Ali (Axmed Faarax Cali 'Idaajaa') (b. 1948) – writer

Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Ayaan Xirsi Cali or Ayaan Hirsi Magan) (b. 1969) – feminist and political writer

Yasmine Allas – actress and writer

Farah Mohamed Jama Awl (1937–1991) – author; specialized in historical fiction

Cristina Ali Farah (b. 1973) – Somali-Italian writer and poet

Nuruddin Farah (b. 1945) – considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in the world

Musa Haji Ismail Galal (b. 1917) – writer, scholar, historian and linguist; one of the foremost historical authorities on the Somali astrological, astronomical, meteorological and calendrical systems

Hadrawi (Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame) (b. 1943) – songwriter, philosopher, and Somali Poet Laureate; dubbed the "Somali Shakespeare"

Afdhere Jama (b. 1980) – Somali-American writer based in San Francisco

Abdukadir Osman – writer

Ladan Osman – poet and teacher

Sofia Samatar – Somali-American writer

Igiaba Scego – Somali-Italian writer

Warsan Shire (b. 1988) – poet

Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920–1973) – poet known for his nationalist poems such as "Kana siib Kana Saar"

Abdourahman Waberi (b. 1965) – writer and teacher

Directors

Abdisalam Aato – film director and producer; leader in Somaliwood cinematic movement

Fathia Absie – film director, broadcaster and writer

Said Salah Ahmed – playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker

Mo Ali – Somali-British film director

Ali Said Hassan – film director and producer; former Somali Film Agency representative

Idil Ibrahim – filmmaker; founder of Zeila Films

Abdirahman Koronto – editor, BBC Somali Output; multi-media journalist

Barni Ahmed Qaasim – multimedia artist and filmmaker

Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (b. 1953) – film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor

Entrepreneurs

Yussur A.F. Abrar – banker and entrepreneur; first female Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia

Nathif Jama Adam – banker and politician; former Senior Vice President and the Head of Sharjah Islamic Bank's Investments & International Banking Division; Governor of Garissa County

Nasra Agil – Somali-Canadian civil engineer and entrepreneur

Omar A. Ali – entrepreneur, accountant, financial consultant, philanthropist, and leading specialist on Islamic finance; formerly CEO of Dar al-Maal al-Islami (DMI Trust), which under his management increased its assets from $1.6 billion USD to $4.0 billion USD; currently chairman and founder of the multinational real estate corporation Integrated Property Investments Limited and its sister company, Quadron investments

Abdirashid Duale – entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the CEO of the multinational enterprise Dahabshiil

Liban Abdi Egal – founder and Chairman of First Somali Bank

Nuria Sheikh Farah – entrepreneur; owner of Risala Enterprises Ltd. and Chairperson of Gargaar

Faisal Hawar – engineer and entrepreneur; CEO, President, and co-founder of the International Somalia Development Foundation as well as the Maakhir Resource Company

Amina Moghe Hersi (b. 1963) – entrepreneur; has launched several multimillion-dollar projects in Kampala, Uganda, such as the Oasis Centre luxury mall and the Laburnam Courts; runs Kingstone Enterprises Limited, one of the largest distributors of cement and other hardware materials in Kampala

Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim – twin fashion designers and owners of the Mataano brand

Aden Mohammed – banker and entrepreneur; managing director of Barclays Bank in East and West Africa; under his tenure BBK won the Banker Awards 2009

Hussein Mohamed – entrepreneur; Vice Chairman of the Eastleigh Business Association

Hodan Nalayeh – media executive and entrepreneur; President of the Cultural Integration Agency and the Vice President of Sales & Programming Development of Cameraworks Productions International

Hussein Shire – businessman; founder and former CEO of Gateway Bus Company

Journalists

Mona Kosar Abdi – Somali-American multimedia journalist

Hassan Abdillahi – journalist and social activist; founder and Chairman of Ogaal Radio

Mohamoud Sheikh Dalmar – journalist and Islamic scholar

Abdirahman Koronto – multi-media journalist; editor of BBC Somali Output

Rageh Omaar (b. 1967) – Somali-British author and television news presenter; formerly a BBC news correspondent; in 2009, he moved to a new post at Al Jazeera English, where he currently presents the nightly weekday documentary series Witness

Mohamed Abshir Waldo – political activist and journalist

Abdirahman Yabarow – journalist; Editor-in-Chief of the VOA's Somali service

Judges

Mohamed Abdi Aware (d. 2009) – high-profile Somali judge in the northern semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia; a member of its Supreme Judicial Council; was assassinated on 12 November 2009 outside a mosque in Bosaso, the capital of Puntland

Abdulqawi Yusuf (b. 1948) – international lawyer and judge with the International Court of Justice

Military leaders

Abdikarim Yusuf Adam – army officer and Chief of TFG Army

Muktar Hussein Afrah – officer in the army of the Transitional Federal Government

Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (c. 1507–1543) – 16th-century Imam and military commander; led the Conquest of Abyssinia

Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (b. 1944) – Islamist leader in Somalia and military leader in the Islamic Courts Union

Mohammed Hussein Ali (b. 1956) – major general in the Kenyan Army and former Commissioner of the Kenya Police

Khalif Warsame Warsuge (b.1942) - General in the National Army and Also Co-Founded The National Geological Center in Beledweyne

Botan Ise Alin (Bootaan Ciise Caalin) – former faction leader and former member of the Transitional Federal Government

Osman Ali Atto (Cismaan Xasan Cali) (b. 1940) – faction leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance

Akil Dhahar – leader of the Sanaag region and some portions of the Bari region

Hasna Doreh – early 20th-century Somali female commander of the Dervish State that frequently joined battles against the imperial powers during the Scramble for Africa

Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag – commander in the army of the Transitional Federal Government

Omar Muhamoud Finnish (Cumar Maxamuud Finish) – Mogadishu-based faction leader

Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade (Maxamed Ibraahim Xaabsade) – rebel soldier

Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (1856–1920) – Somali nationalist and religious leader; established the Dervish state during the Scramble for Africa

Daud Abdulle Hirsi (1960–1965) – Somali general, considered the father of the Somalian Military

Abdullahi Ahmed Irro – general in the Somali National Army; co-founder of the National Academy for Strategy

Ahmed Mohamed Islam – chairman and military commander of Raskamboni movement

Salaad Gabeyre Kediye (d. 1972) – major general in the Somali military; a revolutionary

Mahamoud Mohamed – former Chief of General Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces

Mohamed Afrah Qanyare (Maxamed Qanyare Afrax) (b. 1941) – former faction leader

Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid (Cabdi Xasan Cawaale Qeybdiid) (b. 1948) – militia leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance

Muhammad Ali Samatar – former Minister of Defense; first Vice President; Grand Commander of the Somali National Army (1969-1987)

Yusuf Ahmed Sarinle (d. 2005) general, commander of the Transitional National Government police force

Osman Omar Wehliye – commander of the Somali Police Force from March 2011

Models

Amira Ahmed – Somali-Filipino model

Hawa Ahmed (b. 1989) – Somali-Swedish fashion model and winner of Cycle 4 of Sweden's Next Top Model

Jawahir Ahmed (b. 1991) – Somali-American model; as Miss Somalia, won 2013 Miss Africa Utah and was 2nd runner up in the 2013 Miss United Nations USA pageant

Waris Dirie (b. 1965) – model, author, actress and human rights activist

Ayan Elmi – Somali-Canadian model

Ubah Hassan – Somali-Canadian model

Iman (Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid) (b. 1955) – international fashion icon, supermodel, actress and entrepreneur

Fatima Siad (b. 1986) – third-place finisher on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10; professional model

Yasmin Warsame (b. 1976) – Somali-Canadian model; in 2004, she was named "The Most Alluring Canadian" in a poll by Fashion magazine

Royals

Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (c. 1506 – February 21, 1543) – was a Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate who invaded Abyssinia and defeated several Abyssinian emperors.

Ali ibn Sabr ad-Din (fl. after 1344) – Somali Governor of the Ifat Sultanate

Haqq ad-Din I (fl. 1328) – Somali Emir of the Sultanate of Ifat

Jamal ad-Din I (fl. mid-14th century) – Somali Governor of the Ifat Sultanate

Sabr ad-Din I (fl. 1332) – Somali Emir of the Ifat Sultanate

Haqq ad-Din II (ruled late 14th century) – Somali Sultan of the Ifat Sultanate

Sa'ad ad-Din II (ruled c. 1400) – Somali Sultan of the Ifat Sultanate

Ibrahim Adeer – Somali Sultan; founder of the Sultanate of the Geledi

Osman Ahmed – last Sultan of the Geledi Sultanate

Ahmad ibn Ali (fl. mid-14th century) – Somali Governor of the Ifat Sultanate

Arawelo – Somali Queen of 300 B.C.

Gerad Ali Dable (d. 1503) – 12th Sultan of the Warsangali Sultanate

Gerad Dhidhin (d. 1311) – founder of the Warsangali Sultanate

Olol Diinle – last Sultan of the Neo-Ajuran Sultanate

Mahamud Ibrahim – second Sultan of the Sultanate of the Geledi

Yusuf Mahamud Ibrahim – third Sultan of the Geledi Sultanate and victor of the Bardera wars

Ali Yusuf Kenadid – second Sultan of the Sultanate of Hobyo

Yusuf Ali Kenadid – Somali ruler, and the founder of the Sultanate of Hobyo in the 1880s

Osman Mahamuud – King of the Majeerteen Sultanate in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries

Mahfuz – Emir of Harar and Governor of Zeila in the Adal Sultanate

Nur ibn Mujahid (d. 1567) – 16th-century Somali Emir and patron saint of Harar

Faduma Sarjelle – a Somali princess of the House of Garen

Mohamoud Ali Shire (d. 1960) – 26th Sultan of the Warsangali Sultanate from 1897 to 1960

Ahmed Yusuf (d. 1878) – fourth Sultan of the Gobroon Dynasty; forced the Omani empire to pay tribute

Pilots

Asli Hassan Abade – first Somali female pilot; prominent member of the Somali Air Force; paved the way for gender equality within the military ranks

Ali Matan Hashi (Cali Mataan Xaashi) – first Somali pilot; prominent member of the Supreme Revolutionary Council; established the Somali Air Force

Mustafa Mohamed Moalim (Mustafa Maxamed Macalin) (1943–2009) – first Somali fighter pilot; chief of the Somali Air Force School; chief of the Somali Air Force Operations

Presidents

Muse Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle (b. 1940) – former acting President of Somalia and former Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia; former General in the Somali National Army

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (b. 1934) – former President of Somalia, first President of Puntland, founder of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, the Puntland State of Somalia, and the Transitional Federal Government

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (b. 964) – former President of Somalia and leader of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU)

Hussein Farrah Aidid (b. 1962) – interim president and leader of the Somali National Alliance

Hassan Gouled Aptidon (1916-2006) – first President of Djibouti, 1977-1999

Siad Barre (1919–1995) – third President of Somalia

Aden Abdullah Osman Daar (1908–2007) – Somali politician and the country's first president

Abdirahman Farole (b. 1945) – President of Puntland

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (b. 1947) – second President of Djibouti

Mohamed Hashi (Maxamad Cabdi Xashi) – interim President of Puntland

Abdiqasim Salad Hassan (Cabdiqaasim Salaad Xasan) (b. 1941) – former President of Somalia

Mohamud Muse Hersi (Maxamuud Muuse Xirsi) – former President of Puntland

Aden Ibrahim Aw Hirsi (b. 1968) – Somali politician author, educator and poet; the governor of Gedo region, 2006–2008

Jama Ali Jama – former President of Puntland

Mohamed Osman Jawari – acting President of Somalia and incumbent Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia

Dahir Riyale Kahin (b. 1952) – third President of Somaliland

Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe – former acting President of Somalia

Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (b. 1936) – incumbent President of Somaliland

Ali Mahdi Muhammad (b. 1938) – fourth President of Somalia

Yusuf Haji Nur (Yuusuf Xaaji Nuur) – acting former President of Puntland

Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (1919–1969) – second President of Somalia

Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur – first President of Somaliland Republic

Prime ministers

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed – incumbent Prime Minister of Somalia

Abdiweli Mohamed Ali – former Prime Minister of Somalia

Osman Jama Ali (Cismaan Jaamac Cali) (b. 1941) – Prime Minister under the Transitional National Government

Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal) (1993–2002) – President of Somaliland and former Prime Minister of Somalia

Hassan Abshir Farah (Xasan Abshir Faarax) (b. 1945) – former Prime Minister of Somalia, former Mayor of Mogadishu, and MP

Ali Khalif Galaydh (Cali Khalif Galaydh) (b. 1941) – former Prime Minister of Somalia under the Transitional National Government

Umar Arteh Ghalib (Cumar Carte Qaalib) (b. 1922) – former Prime Minister of Somalia

Ali Mohammed Ghedi (Cali Maxamed Geedi) (b. 1951) – former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

Abdiwahid Elmi Gonjeh – former Acting Prime Minister of Somalia

Abdirizak Haji Hussein (Cabdirasaaq Xaaji Xuseen) (b. 1924) – Prime Minister of Somalia early in the 1960s

Nur Hassan Hussein (Nuur Xasan Xuseen "Nuur Cade") (b. 1938) – former Prime Minister of the TFG

Abdullahi Issa (1922–1988) (Cabdullahi Ciise Maxamuud) – first Prime Minister of Somalia

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ("Farmajo") (b. 1962) – former Prime Minister of Somalia

Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke (b. 1960) – former Prime Minister of Somalia

Abdi Farah Shirdon – former Prime Minister of Somalia

Other politicians

Asha Ahmed Abdalla – Somali parliamentarian and activist

Raqiya Haji Dualeh Abdalla – Somali-American sociologist and politician; former Vice Minister of Health of Somalia

Ali Shido Abdi (Cali Shido Cabdi) – politician and elder, one of the earliest members of Somali Youth League

Muse Bihi Abdi – politician and former military officer; Chairman of the Peace, Unity, and Development Party

Yusuf Hassan Abdi (b. 1958) – senior Somali diplomat; Member of Kenya Parliament

Zahra Abdulla (b. 1966) – Somali politician in Finland; a member of the Helsinki City Council, representing the Green League

Fowziya Yusuf Haji Adan – Foreign Minister of Somalia

Abdullahi Ahmed Addow (Cabdilaahi Axmed Caddoow) (b. 1936) – senior Somali politician and diplomat

Ibrahim Hassan Addou (Ibraahin Xasan Caddoow) (d. 2009) – head of foreign affairs department for the Islamic Courts of Somalia

Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden (Shariif Xasan Sheekh Aadan) (b. 1943) – politician and former Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament

Mohamed Farrah Aidid (Maxamed Faarax Caydiid) (1934–1996) – chairman of the United Somali Congress and later the Somali National Alliance

Fatuma Ibrahim Ali – Somali legislator; MP in National Assembly of Kenya

Mohamed Warsame Ali (Maxamed Warsame Cali "Kiimiko") – politician and diplomat

Abukar Arman – Somali writer and diplomat; former Special Envoy of Somalia to the United States

Hassan Dahir Aweys (Xasan Daahir Aweys) (b. 1935) – head of the 90-member Shura council of the Islamic Courts Union

Abdirahman Jama Barre – former Foreign Minister of Somalia and close relative of Siad Barre; longest-serving Somali diplomat

Abdirahman Duale Beyle – economist; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia

Fatimo Isaak Bihi – ambassador to Geneva and former Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Yusuf Ahmed Hagar Dabageed (Yuusuf Axmed Xagar) – governor of the Hiran region of Somalia

Abdallah Isaaq Deerow (Cabdalle Deeroow Isaaq) (1950–2006) – Minister of Constitutional Affairs of the transitional government

Sheikh Ali Dhere – cleric; head of the first Islamic Courts Union in Mogadishu in 1996; spokesman for Al-Shabaab

Hussein Ali Duale (Xuseen Cali Ducaale) – Finance Minister of Somaliland, and former ambassador of Somalia to Kenya and Uganda

Osman Mohammud Dufle – physician and politician; former Minister of Health in the Transitional National Government of Somalia

Abdulrahim Abby Farah – former Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations; Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia; Chief of Cabinet of Somalia; Chairperson of PaSAGO

Osman Haji (1920–1975) – prominent Somali Youth League member; MP in the Trust Territory of Somalia and the succeeding civilian administration

Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji-Faqi – former Minister of Defence

Anisa Hajimumin – Somali-American politician, social activist and writer; Minister of Women & Family Affairs of Puntland

Bur’i Mohamed Hamza – State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia

Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi – politician; MP and former Minister of State for Planning and International Cooperation of Puntland

Hassan Abdallah Hassan – Mayor of Bosaso

Mark Hendrick (b. 1958) – Somali-British politician and Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament

Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig (Cabdirashiid Maxamed Xidig) – Member of Parliament in the Transitional Federal Parliament

Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale (Barre Aadan Shire, Barre Hiiraale, Barre "Hirale" Aden Shire, or Abdikadir Adan Shire) – Minister of Defense of the Somali Transitional Federal Government

Ismail Mahmud Hurre (Ismaaciil Maxamuud Hurre) (b. c. 1943) – Foreign Minister of the Transitional Federal Government

Sheikh Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein (Sheekh Mukhtaar Maxamed Xuseen) (b. 1912) – speaker of parliament and interim president

Zakia Hussein – politician; Secretary General of the Hanoolaato Party

Adde Gabow (Mohamed Ali Hassan or Maxamed Cali Xasan) – former governor of the Banaadir region and mayor of Mogadishu

Mohamoud Mohamed Guled (Maxamed Maxamuud Guuleed) (b. 1954) – Interior Minister and formerly the Minister of Public Works and Housing

Shukran Hussein Gure – legislator; MP in National Assembly of Kenya

Ahmed M. Hassan – Somali American member-elect of the Clarkston City Council

Mohamed Mohamud Ibrahim (b. 1946/47) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia

Jaylaani Nur Ikar – first Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia

Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade (Yuusuf Maxamed Siyaad "Indhacadde") – member of the Islamic Courts Union

Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Cabdullaahi Sheekh Ismaaciil) – deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the TFG

Edna Adan Ismail (Edna Aadan Ismaaciil or Adna Aadan Ismaaciil) (b. 1937) – Foreign Minister of Somaliland

Ibrahim Artan Ismail (Xaaji Bakiin) – former Minister Interior and Security of Puntland

Ismail Ali Ismail – writer and former diplomat

Saida Haji Bashir Ismail – former Finance Vice-Minister in the Transitional National Government (2000-2004)

Bashir Isse – Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia

Ahmed Sheikh Jama – academician, writer, poet and politician; former Minister of Information of Puntland

Farah Ali Jama – politician; former Minister of Finance of Puntland

Hibaq Jama – Somali-British politician; Ward Councillor for Lawrence Hill

Maryam Kassim – Minister of Social Development of Somalia

Farah Maalim – current deputy speaker of the Kenyan parliament

Mahboub Maalim – diplomat; Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development

Hassan Ali Mire – politician; first Minister of Education of the Somali Democratic Republic

Abdinur Sheikh Mohamed – Somali-American educator and politician; former Minister of Education, Higher Education and Culture of Somalia

Amina Mohamed – former Chairman of the International Organization for Migration and the World Trade Organisation's General Council, and current Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya

Hussein Maalim Mohamed – former Kenyan Minister of State in the office of the president

Mohamed Abdi Mohamed – politician; Ambassador of Somalia to Canada and former Minister of Defence of Somalia

Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan (Maxamed Siciid Xirsi Moorgan) – son-in-law of Siad Barre and Minister of Defense of Somalia

Ismail Qasim Naji (Ismaaciil Qaasim Naaji) – chief of staff of the Transitional Federal Government

Ahmed Abdi Ogle (b. 1937–2006) – first Somali to serve in the Kenyan Parliament in the 60s; three times elected and served as Assistant Minister and later Deputy Mayor of Nairobi

Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar – Vice President of Puntland

Daud Mohamed Omar – Minister of Mineral Resources of Somalia

Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar – former Foreign Minister of Somalia

Mohammad Abdullahi Omar – politician; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland

Daud Mohamed Omar – Minister of Mineral Resources of Somalia

Abdisalam Omer – economist; former Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia

Ahmed Elmi Osman (Karaash) – politician; Minister of Interior of Puntland

Ali Said Raygal – Minister of Sports and Culture of Somaliland

Yusuf Warsame Saeed – former Mayor of Hargeisa

Yasin Haji Osman Sharmarke – founding member and first leader of the Somali Youth League

Mohamed Aden Sheikh (c. 1925–2010) – intellectual, former head of Somali Technological Development, former Minister of Education, and former Minister of Health

Faysal Ali Warabe – engineer and politician; founder and Chairman of For Justice and Development (UCID) political party

Abdi Warsame – Somali American member-elect of the Minneapolis City Council

Saado Ali Warsame – singer-songwriter and politician; former MP in the Federal Parliament of Somalia

Musa Sudi Yalahow (Muuse Suudi Yalaxoow) – faction leader and former Trade Minister in the Transitional Government

Ahmed Yusuf Yasin (Axmed Yuusuf Yaasiin) (b. 1957) – Vice President of Somaliland

Mohamed Yonis (b. 1947) – Deputy Joint United Nations African Union Special Representative for Darfur

Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf – first President of the Somali National Assembly; former Minister of Health and Labour of Somalia

Maryan Abdullahi Yusuf – banker; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia

Mohamed Moallim Hassan, Politician who served as minister of fishery and marine resources of Somalia, 2010- 2011

Scientists

Osman Aden Abdulle – geneticist; has studied the Somali blood type and its ethnogenesis; in 1987 he jointly discovered with his colleagues a new Rh gene complex producing the rare Cx (Rh9) antigen in the Somali population

Abdusalam Abubakar (b. 1989/90) – one of the youngest winners of the BT Young Scientist of the Year Award; later went on to win the European Union Contest for Young Scientists for his project, An Extension of Wiener's Attack on RSA

Hassan al-Jabarti (d. 1774) – mathematician, theologian, astronomer and philosopher, considered one of the great scholars of the 18th century

Amina Said Ali – author, poet, and medical scientist based in Stockholm, Sweden

Warsame Ali (b. 1955) – scientist and assistant professor at Prairie View A&M University, specialized in aerospace technology; previously worked for NASA

Ali Said Faqi – scientist and the leading researcher on the design and interpretation of toxicology studies at the MPI research center in Mattawan, Michigan

Jama Musse Jama (b. 1967) – ethnomathematician and author; known for his research on traditional Somali board games such as Shax and the history of mathematics in the Horn of Africa

Ahmed Mumin Warfa – scientist, specialised in botany and jointly discovered the Cyclamen somalense, the first genus from tropical Africa with his colleague Mats Thulin; the "world's pre-eminent authority on frankincense"; professor at Salt Lake Community College

Theologians

Abd al Aziz al-Amawi (1832–1896) – 19th-century diplomat, historian, poet, jurist and scholar living in the Sultanate of Zanzibar

Uways al-Barawi (1847–1909) – scholar credited with reviving Islam in 19th-century East Africa and with followers in Yemen and Indonesia

Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti (1753–1825) – scholar living in Cairo; recorded the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt

Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti (fl. 10th-11th centuries) – early Muslim leader and forefather of the Darod clan

Ali al-Jabarti (d. 1492) – 15th-century scholar and politician in the Mamluk Empire

Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn – 13th-century scholar and saint; associated with the development of Wadaad's writing

Abdallah al-Qutbi (1879–1952) – polemicist theologian and philosopher; best known for his Al-Majmu'at al-mubaraka ("The Blessed Collection"), a five-part compilation of polemics

Abd Al-Rahman bin Ahmad al-Zayla'i (1820–1882) – scholar; played a crucial role in the spread of the Qadiriyya movement in Somalia and East Africa

Abadir Umar Ar-Rida – 13th-century cleric and saint of Harar; forefather of the Sheekhaal Somali clan

Sa'id of Mogadishu – 14th-century scholar and traveler; his reputation as a scholar earned him audiences with the Emirs of Mecca and Medina; travelled across the Muslim world and visited Bengal and China

Shaykh Sufi – born Abdul-Rahman bin Abdallah al Shashi (Arabic: عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله شاشي) (b. 1829–1904), 19th-century scholar, poet, reformist and astrologist

Uthman bin Ali Zayla'i (d. 1342) – 14th-century theologian and jurist who wrote the single most authoritative text on the Hanafi school of Islam, four volumes known as the Tabayin al-Haqa'iq li Sharh Kanz al-Daqa'iq

Hussain Bisad – tallest Somali man alive; has the largest hand span in the world