Muse Bihi Abdi
Musa Bihi Abdi | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 16, 1948 Near Hargeisa, British Somaliland protectorate |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, former military officer |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | 5th President of Somaliland (2017–2024) |
Musa Bihi Abdi (, ; born 16 June 1948) is a Somaliland political figure and former military officer who held the position of the 5th President of Somaliland from 2017 until 2024.
During the 1970s, he served as a pilot within the Somali Air Force under the administration of Siad Barre. In 2010, Bihi was appointed chairman of Somaliland’s ruling party, the Kulmiye. He was chosen as Kulmiye’s candidate for president in November 2015.
Bihi secured victory in the 2017 Somaliland presidential election on 21 November 2017 and officially took office on 13 December 2017. However, he was defeated in his attempt for a second term by Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in the 2024 Somaliland presidential election.
Early life
Muse was born in proximity to Hargeisa in 1948, during the era when it was part of the British Somaliland protectorate. He completed his secondary education at Amoud Secondary School in 1970.
Military career
In the early 1970s, Muse enlisted in the Somali Air Force and underwent officer training in the Soviet Union, obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the Academy of Pilots located in Dushanbe, Tajik SSR. His deployments included airbases such as Baledogle, Baidoa, and the principal base in Mogadishu.
Between 1981 and 1985, Muse enhanced his military expertise through additional training programs in the United States, attending institutions like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio and Fort Lee.
In 1985, he defected from the Somali Air Force to join the insurgent group known as the Somali National Movement (SNM), which played a pivotal role in toppling the Siad Barre regime during the Somaliland War of Independence in 1991.
From 1985 to 1988, Bihi commanded guerrilla missions under the SNM banner. He continued as a rebel leader until 1990 before shifting focus toward politics, assuming the role of home affairs minister under President Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal in 1994.
Somali Democratic Republic
Between 1973 and 1985, Muse occupied senior positions within the Somali Democratic Republic government. His roles included serving as head of training for the Somali Air Force and acting as military attaché at Somalia’s embassy in Washington.
Egal administration
Following Somaliland’s declaration of independence in 1991, Colonel Muse was instrumental in mediating conflicts among northern Somali clans across Burao, Berbera, Sheekh, and Borama. In 1993, he was appointed Minister of Interior and National Security under President Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal.
Silanyo administration
Muse assumed leadership of Somaliland’s Kulmiye Party as chairman in 2010 after having served as vice chairman since 2008. In 2015, he was selected as Kulmiye’s presidential candidate for the upcoming 2017 elections.
2017 presidential election
The presidential elections in Somaliland took place on 13 November 2017. On 21 November, Muse was declared victorious and became President-elect.
Presidency
Muse Bihi Abdi was inaugurated as Somaliland's fifth president on 13 December 2017 during a ceremony held in Hargeisa, attended by representatives from Ethiopia, Djibouti, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
In the subsequent presidential election of 2024, Abdi was unseated by Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, garnering only 35% of votes compared to Abdullahi's commanding 64%.
Personal life
Muse is married to two women and is the father of seven children, comprising three boys and four girls.