Abdi Hashi Abdullahi
Abdi Hashi Abdullahi | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1, 1946 Babile, Italian Somaliland |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | Speaker of the Senate of Somalia |
Abdi Hashi Abdullahi (; born 1 December 1946) is a Somali political figure who has been elected twice as the inaugural Speaker of the Senate of Somalia representing Somaliland. He took office on 22 January 2017. Prior to this role, he held ministerial positions including Minister of Heritage and Culture as well as Minister of Health within the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
Personal life
Abdullahi was born in Babile during the era of Italian colonial rule. He hails from the Sa'ad Musa branch of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan, a prominent group in both Hargeisa and Somaliland.
Career
His career began as a civil servant in the Somali Democratic Republic throughout the 1970s and 1980s, notably serving as governor of the southern region of Merca from 1979 until 1990.
Following the collapse of the central government in 1991, under the leadership of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, Abdullahi assumed various ministerial duties including Minister of Heritage and Culture between 2004 and 2007, and Minister of Health in 2008 within the Transitional Federal Government. Additionally, he has been elected several times to serve in the Federal Parliament of Somalia.
Senate speaker
Abdullahi was chosen in January 2017 as the first speaker for the newly established Somali Senate.
He secured re-election to this position on 26 April 2022, commencing his second term as Speaker of the Senate.
On 3 December 2024, after the passing of his predecessor Mohamed Ali Yusuf in Istanbul, Abdullahi released a statement commemorating him as a "patriotic person with faith and humble spirit." He also led the official funeral prayers at Mogadishu Airport on 6 December 2024.