List of Presidents of Somalia: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Somalia from 1960 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Somalia, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Somalia: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (in office since 2022). Note: the status of the current president's term is disputed. See his entry below for the dates and the latest court ruling.

Presidents of Somalia in order, with years in office

Aden Adde

Served: 1960–1967

First president of Somalia, from independence on 1 July 1960 until June 1967.

Abdirashid Shermarke

Served: 1967–1969

Assassinated on 15 October 1969.

Sheikh Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein

Served: 1969 (acting)

Acting president for six days after Shermarke's assassination, before the military coup.

Siad Barre

Served: 1969–1991

Took power in the October 1969 coup, was elected by the People's Assembly in 1980 and 1986, and was deposed in January 1991.

Ali Mahdi Muhammad

Served: 1991–1997

Declared himself interim president in 1991; recognised by a number of governments. He died in March 2021.

Abdiqasim Salad Hassan

Served: 2000–2004

Elected in 2000 as head of the transitional government and served until October 2004.

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed

Served: 2004–2008

Elected by the Transitional Federal Parliament in October 2004; resigned in December 2008.

Aden Madobe

Served: 2008–2009 (acting)

Parliament's speaker who served as acting president for 33 days.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed

Served: 2009–2012

Elected in January 2009 and served until August 2012.

Mohamed Osman Jawari

Served: 2012 (acting)

Parliament's speaker who acted as head of state for 19 days in 2012.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

Served: 2012–2017, 2022–present

Elected in 2012, left office in 2017 and returned after the May 2022 election. A March 2026 constitutional change extended presidential terms from four to five years; on 5 November 2026 the Supreme Court ruled it did not apply to his current term, which it said ended on 15 May 2026, a ruling that is disputed. The electoral commission has set a presidential election for 15 May 2027.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo)

Served: 2017–2022

Elected in February 2017; left office after the May 2022 election.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Somalia

Who is the current president of Somalia?

The current head of state of Somalia is Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in office since 2022. Note: the status of the current president's term is disputed. See his entry below for the dates and the latest court ruling.

Who were the previous presidents of Somalia?

The presidents and heads of state of Somalia listed on this page, in order, are: Aden Adde, Abdirashid Shermarke, Sheikh Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein, Siad Barre, Ali Mahdi Muhammad, Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, Aden Madobe, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Mohamed Osman Jawari, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo).

Who was the first president of Somalia?

Aden Adde was the first president of Somalia, in office 1960–1967.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Somalia; Reuters, Africanews and AllAfrica reports from March–November 2026 (checked Nov 2026). Includes acting and interim leaders, who are labelled. Somalia had no president from January 1997 to August 2000 under the interim governments.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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