Mohamud Muse Hersi (Somali: Maxamuud Muuse Xirsi Cadde, Arabic: محمد موسى حرسي; 1 July 1937[1] – 8 February 2017), also known as Adde Musa, was a Somali politician. He was the President of the Puntland region of Somalia from 8 January 2005 to 8 January 2009.[2]

Mohamud Muse Hersi
محمد موسى حرسي
3rd President of the Puntland
In office
8 January 2005 – 8 January 2009
Vice PresidentHassan Dahir Afqurac
Preceded byAbdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Succeeded byAbdirahman Mohamud Farole
Personal details
Born(1937-07-01)1 July 1937
Bayla, Italian East Africa[1]
Died8 February 2017(2017-02-08) (aged 79)
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Military service
RankGeneral
Battles/warsOgaden War
Somali Civil War

Biography

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A former General in the Somali Armed Forces of long-time Somali president Mohamed Siad Barre, Muse later became a local and state governor in northern Somalia before the outbreak of the Somali Civil War. He hails from the Bah-Dir Roble sub of the larger Osman Mahamuud sub-clan and is the great grandson of Xirsi Boqor Osman son of Boqor Osman Mahamuud.

  • 1963 – 1965 Secretariat to The Chief of Military Forces[3]
  • 1965 – 1967 Chairman of Horseed political party
  • 1970 – 1972 Commander of the 21st Division, Somali National Army
  • 1972 – 1973 Chief of Training, Somali Military Forces

He also served as a military attaché to China during the mid to late 1970s. After his stint in China, he later relocated to Canada in 1979, where he owned and managed several gas stations until the mid-1990s.[4]

Muse died in the United Arab Emirates on 8 February 2017.[5]

President of Puntland

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In March 2005, then incumbent President Muse began an ambitious plan to build an airport in Puntland's commercial capital of Bosaso, a project which is now complete and referred to as Bender Qassim International Airport.[6][7] The following month, UNICEF praised a pledge from Muse who promised to inaugurate salary payments for primary school teachers, which would mark a major break from the norm in Somalia where, traditionally parents have had to bear full responsibility for the payment of teachers.[8]

In November 2006, the Union of Islamic Courts reportedly captured Bandiiradley, a strategically located settlement near Puntland's border with Mudug. However, a spokesman for local warlord Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid claimed that his troops had only made a tactical retreat from the area. Mohamed Mohamud Jama, a Mudug-based spokesman for the Islamic Courts, announced the courts' intention to march on Gaalkacyo, part of which is claimed by Puntland. Heretofore, the courts had avoided making incursions into Puntland.[9] That same month, General Adde announced that he would rule according to Islamic law but in a different way from that of the Islamic Courts in order to avoid "politicising religion." Adde then announced that Puntland would resist any attack made by the Islamic Courts.[10]

During the 2008 election year, Puntland saw a spike in piracy. Then incumbent President Mohamud Muse Hersi was quoted on Al Jazeera as saying that "giving in to the pirates' demands was not an option. We do not advocate for any ransom to be paid to the pirates and we support the French government, which uses force, while taking on the pirates".[11]

In October 2008, Muse also signed a Dh170 million agreement with Dubai's Lootah Group to support the construction of an airport, seaport and free zone in the coastal city of Bosaso. Muse indicated that "I believe that when we finish all these projects our people will benefit by getting good health services, education and overall prosperity."[12]

Muse's term as President of Puntland ended in January 2009.

Death

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Muse died in UAE on 8 February 2017.[13]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "TAARIIKH NOLOLEEDKII JEN. CADDE MUUSE XIRSI BOQOR". puntlandpost.net. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Somalia". World Statesmen.org. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Profile of new leaders. Garad Abdiqani voices his support: Rep of. SOOL, SANAG& CAYN". Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Former Ottawa gas station operator rules home state of Somalia pirates". www.cbc.ca. cbc. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Somalia: Former Puntland President dies in UAE". Garowe Online. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Puntland State of Somalia". Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  7. ^ "The President Tours the Bossaso Airport Construction Site". Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  8. ^ "lauds Somali leader's pledge to pay primary school teachers | Press centre". UNICEF. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Islamists 'take key Somali town'". BBC News. BBC. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
  10. ^ Puntland 'to fight Islamic courts', Al Jazeera, 21 November 2006
  11. ^ "US ship in Kenya after hijack drama". Al Jazeera English. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Puntland: The land of opportunity". Hiiraan.com. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Former Puntland President dies in UAE". 30 June 2020.

References

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