HARGEISA (Kaab TV) – On Monday, November 18, Somaliland laid to rest one of its most distinguished technocrats and politicians, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud “Siilaanyo,” who passed away on November 15 at his residence in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.
Siilaanyo, 86, was the fourth President of Somaliland and a key figure in the region’s history.
Ahmed Siilaanyo was born in Burao, Togdheer region, in 1938 to a middle-class family. The only member of his family to receive formal education, Siilaanyo attended schools in Amoud and Sheikh before traveling to England in 1958.
There, he completed his GCSEs at the University of London and later studied economics at the University of Manchester.
Returning to Somalia in 1965, Siilaanyo became the Director General of the Ministry of National Planning, a position he held until 1969.
During the military dictatorship under president Mohamed Siad Barre, Siilaanyo served as Secretary of the Ministry of National Planning, Minister of Trade, and Chairman of the National Economic Council.
Joining the Struggle for Somaliland’s Independence
In 1982, Siilaanyo resigned and defected Somalia’s military regime, joining the Somali National Movement (SNM) in 1984.
He was elected leader of the SNM the same year, spearheading the struggle for Somaliland’s independence.
Despite internal challenges within the SNM, his leadership was pivotal in the eventual establishment of Somaliland as a self-declared independent republic in 1991.
After the fall of Siad Barre’s regime in 1991, Siilaanyo wrote a widely known ‘situational paper’ proposing a confederal arrangement for Somalia and Somaliland, advocating for equal regional autonomy for each region between the northern and southern regions.
Through a confederal system, Siilaanyo believed that a stable Somalia and Somaliland could coexist.
This, however, did not materialise as Somalia descended into complete anarchy.
His vision laid the groundwork for Somaliland’s quest for self-determination.
Political Legacy in Somaliland
Siilaanyo was a member of the Somaliland Parliament from 1993 to 1997 and served as Minister of Finance and Planning under President Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal.
In 2002, he founded the Kulmiye opposition party and led it to victory in the 2010 presidential election, defeating president Dahir Rayale Kahin.
As President of Somaliland from 2010 to 2017, Siilaanyo initiated critical dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia, advocating for peaceful negotiations regarding their political future.
He oversaw significant economic and political reforms and ensured a smooth transition of power in 2017 when his party’s candidate, Muse Bihi Abdi, won the presidential election.
Following Siilaanyo’s passing, Somaliland declared three days of national mourning. Flags were flown at half-mast as the nation remembered a leader who dedicated his life to governance, nation-building, and the pursuit of independence for Somaliland.
Siilaanyo is remembered not only as a skilled politician but also as a technocrat with a deep understanding of economics, planning, and administration.
His contributions to Somalia’s early development in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as his leadership in Somaliland, have left an indelible mark on the region’s history.
Ahmed Silanyo’s legacy as a leader, economist, and advocate for Somaliland’s independence will be cherished for generations to come.