Former Somaliland President Siilaanyo is dead

Former Somaliland President Maxamed Maxamuud ‘Siilaanyo’ has passed away at the age of 86. Maxamed died on Wednesday evening, according to a statement from his family.

Siilaanyo, as he was fondly known, served as the fourth President of Somaliland from 2010 to 2017. His tenure was marked by significant strides in infrastructure development, economic reforms, and efforts to bolster Somaliland's quest for international recognition as an independent state.

During his presidency, he focused on stabilising the region, fostering peaceful elections, and promoting education and health reforms. His leadership was widely lauded for maintaining Somaliland's relative stability in a turbulent Horn of Africa region.

Career life

Born in 1938 in Burco, Siilaanyo played a pivotal role in Somaliland's political history.  He served as an official at the Ministry of Planning and Coordination in Mogadishu 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).

Siilaanyo was the Chairman of the Somali National Movement from 1982 to 1990. 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 programme 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.