Dr. Abdurahman M. Abdullahi
Presidential Candidate for Somalia 2012
· Served in the Somali National Army (1971-1986), trained in the former Soviet Union and the USA reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
· Assistant Lecturer in the Somali National University (1981-83).
· Married to Muhbo Haji Iman, my beloved wife for 32 years. We have seven children, one girl and six boys.
· 1980s was a difficult period for our country. Clan based insurgencies emerged and the regime responded with brutal violence. The choice was to fight my people or leave the army and I chose the latter.
· I decided to also refrain from joining the armed insurgencies where many of my colleagues vigorously invited me to join.
· I enrolled at McGill University in Montreal, Canada to obtain a master’s degree and PhD in modern Islamic History.
· During my time in the Diaspora, I was very active within the local Somali community through student organizations as well as youth and women groups. Among the organizations I played a major role establishing was the Somali University Student Association (SUSA) in Canada, which is still active after 22 years of its creation.
· My dream of returning to my home while many were fleeing became a reality. I returned to Somalia in early 1993 as the Regional Director of Mercy-USA for Aid and Developments’ East Africa Program (1993-2007).
· Mercy-USA we have reached out to many communities throughout the country and we participated in relief efforts, establishment of primary and secondary schools as well as health centers and Supplementary Food Programs for malnourished children.
· During this period, I also joined hands with other concerned Somalis to establish the civil society movement in Somalia. In this regard, we have established schools, clinics, women and youth organizations, initiated sports activities, reconciled warring clans and advocated for peace.
· One of the first civil society organizations, which I helped establish was Peace and Human Rights Network (PHRN/INXA) where I was a Co-founder and Chairman.
· In the education sector, the pinnacle of our endeavor in reviving education in our country was the establishment of Mogadishu University in 1996 (MU is now ranked among the best 50 universities in Africa), of which I am one of the founders and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
· My desire for peace and commitment to reconciliation led me to become the Chairman of the Somali Reconciliation Council (SRC) in 1994, an NGO focusing on reconciling communities using innovative conflict resolution methods based on Islam and Somali culture. Among the regions that SRC worked and delivered successful reconciliation initiatives are: Galgadud, Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, Banadir and the Jubba Valley region.
· I was selected as one of the members of the Somali Technical Committee organizing the conference. My responsibility included overseeing the drafting of the National Charter.
· I was also present at all subsequent conferences such as that in Kenya (2003-2004) and Djibouti (2008-2009).
· I have been a member of Islah Movement in Somalia since 1985. As one of its key leaders, I served as a member of its Shura Council since 1995, director of political office (1995-1999), the deputy chairman responsible for international relations (1999-2008) and again director of political office since 2008.
· Islah is a peaceful Islamic organization founded in 1978. It has established chapters all over Somalia and in the Diaspora. It believes in transforming society gradually by invoking its Islamic values of justice, peace and brotherhood. It advocates for the adoption of Sharia-compliant constitution and the promotion of Islamic values in the state and society.
It is my strong belief that the only way to do this is to provide competent leadership capable of leading Somalia with new vision and direction. As one of those who responded to the call to serve, I firmly stand to lead this nation to a new horizon and place Somalia back in the world map as a beacon of peace and prosperity –Insh’Allah.