Abdirahim Ali Ismail
Abdirahim Ali Ismail Farah | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Qase |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Known for | Mayor of Las Anod |
Abdirahim Ali Ismail Farah (), commonly referred to as Qase, is a Somali political figure who has held the position of Mayor of Las Anod, the administrative center of the Sool region, since 20 June 2021, following the 2021 Somaliland municipal elections.
Background
Abdirahim hails from the Dhulbahante clan, a significant branch within the Darod clan family that predominates in the Sool area.
Career
During the 2021 Somaliland municipal elections, Abdirahim secured a seat on the Las Anod municipal council representing the Waddani party and was appointed mayor on 20 June 2021, succeeding Abdiaziz Hussein Hassan. The opposition coalition formed by Waddani and UCID captured both the mayoral and deputy mayoral roles, delivering a political defeat to the incumbent Kulmiye party and President Muse Bihi Abdi, especially given Las Anod’s strategic significance in Sool.
Following his inauguration, he introduced reforms targeting municipal security and governance in late 2021. These measures included creating neighborhood security committees, redefining city districts to enhance public safety, and conducting comprehensive registration of residences and inhabitants throughout the city.
2023 Las Anod conflict and SSC-Khatumo
In January 2023, amid demonstrations and targeted violence, Abdirahim indicated that peace had been restored in Las Anod after clashes overnight. He noted that local government officials and community elders were collaborating to stabilize the area and confirmed that military forces had withdrawn to minimize civilian casualties. As hostilities escalated in February, he dismissed accusations labeling residents as “terrorists” and called for the withdrawal of Somaliland military personnel. Local authorities later reported more than 210 fatalities and 680 injuries, appealing for armed forces to remain distant.[1][2] On Eid al-Fitr (21 April 2023), he emphasized that peace in the Sool region depended largely on actions by the President of Somaliland, urging a pullback of troops. On 23 April, he called for a swift cessation of hostilities.[3][4] Throughout this period of conflict, Abdirahim continued to be recognized as mayor while Las Anod aligned itself with the SSC-Khatumo administration; reports from August 2023 confirmed his ongoing tenure.[5] By June 2025, still serving as mayor, he appealed for justice following an incident involving two sisters who were assaulted in the city. He called for calm among residents and confirmed that investigations were underway.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedHiiraan Online - ↑ "Golaha Deegaanka Laascaanood oo ka warbixiyay khasaaraha ka dhashay dagaalka go'aamana soo saaray" [Las Anod District Council reports on war casualties and issues resolutions]. Hiiraan Online (in Soomaaliga). 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
- ↑ "Sidee looga ciiday deegaanada kala duwan ee Soomaalida?" [How Eid was celebrated across Somali regions]. VOA Somali (in Soomaaliga). 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
- ↑ "Duqa Laascaanood oo ku baaqay in dagaal buuxa lagu soo afjaro" [Las Anod mayor calls for a comprehensive end to the fighting]. Hiiraan Online (in Soomaaliga). 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
- ↑ "Inside the Newest Conflict in Somalia's Long Civil War". New Lines Magazine. 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
- ↑ "SSC-Khatumo oo ka hadashay gabdho walaala ah oo kufsi loogu geystey Laascaanood" [SSC-Khatumo speaks on two sisters raped in Las Anod]. Horseed Media (in Soomaaliga). 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2025-09-20.