Profiles World Leader

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

President of Somalia
ACTIVE

Somali president serving second non-consecutive term, leading fight against Al-Shabaab while rebuilding state institutions

Quick Facts

Country
Somalia
Born
November 29, 1955
In Power Since
May 15, 2022
Last Updated
July 19, 2025

Overview

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud serves his second term as President of Somalia (2022-present), having previously held the office from 2012-2017. He leads efforts to combat Al-Shabaab terrorism while rebuilding state institutions in one of the world’s most fragile states.

Political Career

Academic Background

  • University education
  • Civil society leadership
  • Peace and development work
  • Political activism

Presidential Terms

2000-2012

Civil Society Work

Education and peace building activities

September 2012

First Presidency

Elected as Somalia's president

2012-2017

State Building

First term focused on institution building

May 2022

Second Term

Returns to presidency

2022-present

Al-Shabaab Fight

Intensified counter-terrorism operations

Al-Shabaab Campaign

Counter-Terrorism Strategy

  • Military offensive intensification
  • International cooperation
  • Community mobilization
  • Ideological counter-narrative

Military Operations

  • Government forces coordination
  • ATMIS support utilization
  • Local militia partnerships
  • Territory liberation

Somalia Security Challenges

Al-Shabaab Territory
Rural areas
Still significant presence
ATMIS Peacekeepers
17,600
African Union mission
Displaced People
3.9M
Internal displacement
Years of Conflict
30+
Since state collapse

State Reconstruction

Institution Building

  • Government capacity development
  • Federal system implementation
  • Public service delivery
  • Rule of law establishment

Economic Recovery

  • Revenue collection improvement
  • International aid coordination
  • Private sector development
  • Infrastructure reconstruction

Federal System Management

Regional Relations

  • Federal member states coordination
  • Power-sharing arrangements
  • Resource allocation
  • Conflict resolution

Puntland and Somaliland

  • Autonomous region engagement
  • Unification efforts
  • Dispute mediation
  • Cooperation promotion

International Relations

Regional Partners

Key Relationships:

  • Ethiopia (security cooperation)
  • Kenya (border management)
  • Djibouti (port access)
  • Uganda (ATMIS leadership)

Global Engagement

  • UN partnership
  • World Bank cooperation
  • EU development aid
  • US counter-terrorism

Economic Challenges

Development Priorities

  • Infrastructure rebuilding
  • Job creation
  • Service delivery
  • Investment attraction

Resource Management

  • Oil exploration
  • Fishing industry
  • Livestock sector
  • Remittance flows

Humanitarian Crisis

Drought Response

  • Emergency assistance
  • Food security
  • Water provision
  • Livelihood support

Displacement Management

  • IDP support
  • Return facilitation
  • Integration programs
  • Protection services

Democratic Governance

Electoral Process

  • Democratic transitions
  • Electoral system development
  • Political party building
  • Civil society engagement

Constitutional Development

  • Federal constitution
  • Legal framework
  • Institutional design
  • Democratic principles

Security Sector Reform

Military Development

  • Somali National Army building
  • Training programs
  • Equipment provision
  • Professional standards

Police Building

  • Law enforcement capacity
  • Community policing
  • Training assistance
  • Equipment support

Civil Society Relations

Peace Building

  • Community reconciliation
  • Conflict resolution
  • Social cohesion
  • Traditional mechanisms

Development Partnership

  • Service delivery
  • Capacity building
  • Advocacy support
  • Resource mobilization

Women and Youth

Inclusion Efforts

  • Political participation
  • Economic empowerment
  • Education access
  • Leadership development

Youth Engagement

  • Employment programs
  • Education opportunities
  • Civic participation
  • Counter-radicalization

Climate Adaptation

Environmental Challenges

  • Drought frequency
  • Flooding impact
  • Desertification
  • Resource competition

Resilience Building

  • Adaptation strategies
  • Disaster preparedness
  • Sustainable development
  • International support

Anti-Corruption Efforts

Transparency Measures

  • Government accountability
  • Financial management
  • Procurement reform
  • Asset declaration

Justice System

  • Court development
  • Anti-corruption institutions
  • Legal framework
  • Enforcement capacity

Regional Security

Maritime Security

  • Piracy combat
  • Coastal protection
  • Blue economy
  • International cooperation

Border Management

  • Cross-border security
  • Trade facilitation
  • Migration control
  • Regional coordination

Cultural Preservation

National Identity

  • Somali culture promotion
  • Language preservation
  • Traditional values
  • Unity building

Religious Harmony

  • Islamic values
  • Moderate interpretation
  • Extremism rejection
  • Religious leadership

International Support

Financial Assistance

  • Development aid
  • Humanitarian support
  • Budget assistance
  • Technical cooperation

Security Support

  • Military training
  • Equipment provision
  • Intelligence sharing
  • Capacity building

Leadership Challenges

Political Stability

  • Coalition management
  • Opposition engagement
  • Federal balance
  • Democratic consolidation

Security Threats

  • Al-Shabaab persistence
  • Clan conflicts
  • Regional tensions
  • Criminal networks

Future Vision

State Consolidation

  • Institution strengthening
  • Service delivery
  • Economic development
  • Social cohesion

Regional Integration

  • East African cooperation
  • Trade development
  • Migration management
  • Conflict prevention

Personal Leadership

Characteristics

  • Academic background
  • Moderate approach
  • International engagement
  • Peace building focus

Communication

  • Public engagement
  • International outreach
  • Media relations
  • Transparency commitment

Historical Context

State Collapse Legacy

  • Institution rebuilding
  • Social reconstruction
  • Economic recovery
  • Security restoration

Federal Experiment

  • Power-sharing model
  • Regional autonomy
  • Democratic transition
  • International support

Assessment

Hassan Sheikh’s leadership faces enormous challenges:

Achievements:

  • Democratic transition
  • Institution building
  • International recognition
  • Peace building efforts

Ongoing Challenges:

  • Al-Shabaab threat
  • Humanitarian crisis
  • Economic development
  • Federal system consolidation

His second presidency tests Somalia’s capacity for sustained democratic governance amid security threats.

Current Priorities

Security Stabilization

  • Al-Shabaab defeat
  • Military capacity
  • Community safety
  • Regional cooperation

Economic Development

  • Infrastructure investment
  • Job creation
  • Service delivery
  • International partnership

This profile reflects the challenges of democratic leadership in a fragile state recovering from decades of conflict while confronting ongoing security threats.