Ahmed M. Mahamoud Silanyo
Encyclopedia
Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo (born 1936) is a Somali
politician. He is the current President of Somaliland
, a self-proclaimed republic internationally recognized as an autonomous region in Somalia
. Standing as an opposition candidate, Silanyo was elected as President during the June 2010 presidential election.
and Amud
in the then British Somaliland
protectorate
. He passed the advanced level GCE
examinations in London
, England
, from 1958 to 1960. He then attended college at the University of Manchester
, and earned an Honors Bachelor's Degree
in Economics
(1960–63). He completed his Master's Degree
in Economics from the University of Manchester in 1966.
from 1965 to 1969. He was also the Minister of Planning and Coordination (1969–1973), the Minister of Commerce (1973–1978 and 1980–1982), and the Chairman of the National Economic Board (1978–1980). He was the Chairman of the Somali National Movement
from 1982 to 1990, and was that organization's longest-serving chairman. From 1993 to 1997, he was a member of the House of Representatives of Somaliland
. He served as the Somaliland region's Minister of Finance from 1997 to 1999, in which position he initiated a program of fiscal reform. Between 1999 and 2000, he also worked as Somaliland's Minister of Planning and Coordination, a position from which he resigned in 2001.
In 2010, a local Somaliland company, Somaliland Cable (SomCable) Ltd announced it was contracted to deploy the submarine cable from Djibouti to Somaliland would pull the submarine cable from Djibouti port to Berbera by sea (submarine cable) and on land, it would run cost effective land based long haul fiber-optic communications networks from Djibouti to Somaliland. SomCable declared it would invest $35 million USD on the project and would employ more than 10, 000 locals where funding will come from the current President Silanyo.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
politician. He is the current President of Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
, a self-proclaimed republic internationally recognized as an autonomous region in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Standing as an opposition candidate, Silanyo was elected as President during the June 2010 presidential election.
Early life
From 1946 to 1957, Silanyo attended secondary schools in the towns of SheekhSheekh
Sheekh or Sheikh is a small town in the Togdheer region of Somalia. It is situated 70 km north of Burco.-Notes:...
and Amud
Amud
Amud or Amoud is an ancient town in the northwestern Awdal region of Somalia. It was a center of activity during the Golden Age of the Adal Sultanate...
in the then British Somaliland
British Somaliland
British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the northern part of present-day Somalia. For much of its existence, British Somaliland was bordered by French Somaliland, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland. From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa...
protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
. He passed the advanced level GCE
General Certificate of Education
The General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the Commonwealth countries, notably Sri Lanka, confer to students. The GCE traditionally comprised two levels: the Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level...
examinations in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, from 1958 to 1960. He then attended college at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, and earned an Honors Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
(1960–63). He completed his Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Economics from the University of Manchester in 1966.
Political experience
Silanyo served as a official at the Ministry of Planning and Coordination in MogadishuMogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
from 1965 to 1969. He was also the Minister of Planning and Coordination (1969–1973), the Minister of Commerce (1973–1978 and 1980–1982), and the Chairman of the National Economic Board (1978–1980). He was the Chairman of the Somali National Movement
Somali National Movement
The Somali National Movement was a 1980s-1990s Somali rebel group. Founded and led by Isaaq members to protect the clan's interests, it was key in the formation of Somaliland, a self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia.-Formation:In April...
from 1982 to 1990, and was that organization's longest-serving chairman. From 1993 to 1997, he was a member of the House of Representatives of Somaliland
House of Representatives of Somaliland
The House of Representatives of Somaliland is the lower house of the Republic of Somaliland.The current House of Representatives, formed following elections held on 29 September 2005, has a total of 82 members, including the Speaker of the House, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi...
. He served as the Somaliland region's Minister of Finance from 1997 to 1999, in which position he initiated a program of fiscal reform. Between 1999 and 2000, he also worked as Somaliland's Minister of Planning and Coordination, a position from which he resigned in 2001.
In 2010, a local Somaliland company, Somaliland Cable (SomCable) Ltd announced it was contracted to deploy the submarine cable from Djibouti to Somaliland would pull the submarine cable from Djibouti port to Berbera by sea (submarine cable) and on land, it would run cost effective land based long haul fiber-optic communications networks from Djibouti to Somaliland. SomCable declared it would invest $35 million USD on the project and would employ more than 10, 000 locals where funding will come from the current President Silanyo.