List_of_Somalis
This is a list of notable Somalis from Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia as well as the Somali diaspora.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
- Ali A. Abdi – sociologist and educationist, and professor of education and international development at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; former President of the Comparative and International Education Society of Canada (CIESC); founding/co-founding editor of the peer reviewed online publications, Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education and Cultural and Pedagogical Inquiry
- Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi – scholar, linguist and writer; published on Somali culture, history, language and ethnogenesis
- Ali Jimale Ahmed – poet, essayist, scholar, and short story writer; published on Somali history and linguistics
- Shire Jama Ahmed (c. 1935–1989) – linguist who devised a unique Latin script for the Somali language
- Suleiman Ahmed Gulaid – prominent professor and the president of Amoud University
- Abdirahman Hussein – scholar and teacher at University of Tennessee
- Abdi Kusow – professor of sociology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa; has written extensively on Somali sociology and anthropology
- Mohamed Haji Mukhtar – professor of African and Middle Eastern History at Savannah State University; has written extensively on the history of Somalia and the Somali language
- Ismail Jim'ale Osoble – lawyer, once served as Minister of Information in the government of Aden Abdullah Osman Daar
- Abdi Ismail Samatar – prominent scholar and professor at the University of Minnesota
- Ahmed Ismail Samatar – prominent professor and Dean of the Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College; editor of Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies
- Said Sheikh Samatar (1943–2015) – prominent scholar and writer and former professor of history at Rutgers University; main areas of interest are history and linguistics
- Dekha Ibrahim Abdi (1964–2011) – peace activist in Kenya
- Zam Zam Abdullahi Abdi – human rights activist and journalist
- Leila Abukar – political activist
- Fartuun Adan – social activist; founder and executive director of the Elman Peace Centre
- Elman Ali Ahmed – entrepreneur and social activist
- Halima Ahmed – political activist with the Youth Rehabilitation Center in Mogadishu
- Hodan Ahmed – political activist and Senior Program Officer at the National Democratic Institute
- Ifrah Ahmed – social activist; founder of the UYI NGO
- Nimco Ahmed – Somali-American political activist; State Director for the DFL
- Abdulkadir Yahya Ali (1957–2005) – peace activist, co-director and founder of the Center for Research and Dialogue.
- Abdirizak Bihi – social activist; Director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center
- Ilwad Elman – social activist at the Elman Peace Centre
- Asha Haji Elmi (Caasha Xaaji Cilmi) (b. 1962) – peace activist in Somalia
- Leyla Hussein – psychotherapist and social activist; Chief Executive of Hawa's Haven; co-founder of Daughters of Eve
- Ahmed Hussen – Somali-Canadian lawyer and social activist; President of the Canadian Somali Congress
- Farhiyo Farah Ibrahim – Somali social activist
- Hanan Ibrahim – social activist based in the UK; founder of the Somali Family Support Group (SFSG)
- Fatima Jibrell (b. 1947) – Somali-American environmental activist; co-founder and executive director of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Organization ("Horn Relief"); co-founder of Sun Fire Cooking; was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Coalition for Peace
- Hirsi Magan (Xirsi Magan Ciise) (1935–2008) – activist, scholar and one of the leading figures of the Somali Revolution
- Magid Magid – Somali-British activist and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of Sheffield
- Adam Matan – activist and community organiser who was the first Somali-Brit to be awarded the OBE medal by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge for services to the Somali community in the United Kingdom.
- Hawa Aden Mohamed – social activist; chairperson of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development
- Musse Olol – American social activist and Chairman of the Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO)
- Hibaaq Osman – political strategist; chairperson of the ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, and El-Karama
- Hawo Tako (d. 1948) – early 20th century female nationalist whose sacrifice became a symbol for pan-Somalism
- Mohamud Siad Togane (b. 1943) – Somali Canadian poet, professor, and political activist
- Hanad Zakaria Warsame (1952–2008) – doctor and anti-Communist activist
- Shadya Yasin – Somali-Canadian social activist and member of the Ontario Premier's Council on Youth Opportunities
- Aar Maanta – singer-songwriter, composer, and music producer
- Abdi Sinimo (c. 1920s–1967) – artist and inventor of the Balwo musical style
- Abdullahi Qarshe (1924–1994) – musician, poet and playwright known for his innovative styles of music which included a wide variety of musical instruments such as the guitar, piano, and oud
- Alisha Boe – actress, known for portraying Jessica in Netflix's original series 13 Reasons Why.
- Ali Feiruz (1931–1994) – musician; one of the first generation of Somali artists; prominent member of Hobolada Waaberi musical troupes
- Amin Amir – Somali-Canadian cartoonist and painter
- Barkhad Abdi – actor, best known for his portrayal of Abduwali Muse in the film, yCaptain Phillips, co-starring Tom Hanks
- Elisa Kadigia Bove – Somali-Italian actress and activist
- Guduuda 'Arwo – singer
- Hassan Sheikh Mumin (1930/31–2008) – poet, reciter, playwright, broadcaster, actor and composer
- Hasan Adan Samatar (b. 1953) – artist during the 1970s and 80s
- Dada Masiti, Ashraf poet, mystic and Islamic scholar.
- Mohamed Mooge Liibaan (1942–1984) – artist, teacher, instrumentalist, poetry and veteran
- Ahmed Mooge Liibaan (d. 1997) – artist from the Radio Hargeisa generation
- Magool (1948–2004) (Halima Khaliif Omar) – considered in Somalia as one of the greatest entertainers of all time
- Mohamed Sulayman Tubeec the King of Vocals
- Mocky (Dominic Salole) (b. 1974) – Somali-Canadian pop music performer
- Maryam Mursal (b. 1950) – musician, composer and vocalist whose work has been produced by the record label Real World
- Marian Joan Elliott Said (Poly Styrene) (1957–2011) – pioneering Somali-British punk rock singer with X-Ray Spex
- Jiim Sheikh Muumin – singer and instrumentalist
- Jonis Bashir – Somali-Italian actor and singer
- K'naan (b. 1978) – Somali-Canadian hip hop artist
- Khadija Qalanjo – singer and folklore dancer in the 1970s and 1980s
- Sulekha Ali – Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter
- Saba Anglana – Somali-Italian actress and international singer
- Waaberi – Somalia's foremost musical group; toured throughout several countries in Africa and Asia, including Egypt, Sudan and China
- Waayaha Cusub – music collective led by Falis Abdi
- Xiddigaha Geeska – Somali music band based in Hargeisa
- Liban Abdi (b. 1988) – international footballer; currently plays for Ferencvárosi TC in the Hungarian First Division, on loan from Sheffield United of England
- Mohammed Ahamed (b. 1985) – Somali-Norwegian – Canadian Olympian in 2012, Nike-sponsored athlete
- Abdi Mohamed Ahmed (b. 1962) – professional footballer
- Amin Askar (b. 1985) – Somali-Norwegian professional football player, playing for Fredrikstad FK in the Norwegian Premier League
- Faisal Jeylani Aweys – taekwondo practitioner
- Zahra Bani (b. 1979) – Somali-Italian javelin thrower
- Abdi Bile (b. 1962) – world champion middle distance runner in the 1500 metres, and three time Olympian
- Ayub Daud (b. 1990) – international footballer who plays as a forward/attacking midfielder for A.S. Gubbio 1910, on loan from Juventus
- Rizak Dirshe (b. 1972) – Swedish middle distance runner
- Mo Farah (b. 1983) – Somali-British gold medalist in international track and field; currently holds the British indoor record in the 3000 metre and won the 3000 m at the 2009 European Indoor Championships in Turin
- Youssouf Hersi
- Ahmed Said Ahmed
- Abdisalam Ibrahim (b. 1991) – Somali-Norwegian footballer who plays for Manchester City; Premier League's first Somali player and also the first East African
- Fabio Liverani (b. 1976) – Somali-Italian international footballer
- Mustafa Mohamed (b. 1979) – Somali-Swedish long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase; won gold in the 2006 Nordic Cross Country Championships and at the first SPAR European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal in 2009; beat the 31-year-old Swedish record in 2007
- Jama Musse Jama – ethnomathematician and writer
- Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Ayaan Xirsi Cali or Ayaan Hirsi Magan) (b. 1969) – feminist and political writer
- Gaariye (Mohamed Hashi Dhamac) (b. 1951) – poet and writer
- Yasmine Allas – actress and writer
- Farah Awl (1937–1991) – author; specialized in historical fiction
- Cristina Ali Farah (b. 1973) – Somali-Italian writer and poet
- Elmi Boodhari (d. 1940) – pioneer, writer and poet, known as (King of Romance) among Somalis
- Nuruddin Farah (b. 1945) – considered one of the greatest contemporary writers in the world
- Musa Haji Ismail Galal (b. 1917) – writer, scholar, historian and linguist; one of the foremost historical authorities on the Somali astrological, astronomical, meteorological and calendrical systems
- Hadrawi (Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame) (b. 1943) – songwriter, philosopher, and Somali Poet Laureate; dubbed the "Somali Shakespeare"
- Afdhere Jama (b. 1980) – Somali-American writer based in San Francisco
- Abdukadir Osman – writer
- Aadan Carab, poet who narrated the Dhulbahante genocide at the hands of European colonialists in the Darawiish era
- Salaan Carrabey (d. 1943) – legendary poet
- Hussein M. Adam – writer, journalist and professor
- Ladan Osman – poet and teacher
- Sofia Samatar – Somali-American writer
- Igiaba Scego – Somali-Italian writer
- Warsan Shire (b. 1988) – poet
- Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920–1973) – poet known for his nationalist poems such as "Kana siib Kana Saar"
- Abdourahman Waberi (b. 1965) – writer and teacher
- Nadifa Mohamed – Somali-British novelist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
- Abdisalam Aato – film director and producer; leader in Somaliwood cinematic movement
- Fathia Absie – film director, broadcaster and writer
- Said Salah Ahmed – playwright, poet, educator and filmmaker
- Mo Ali – Somali-British film director
- Ali Said Hassan – film director and producer; former Somali Film Agency representative
- Idil Ibrahim – filmmaker; founder of Zeila Films
- Barni Ahmed Qaasim – multimedia artist and filmmaker
- Abdulkadir Ahmed Said (b. 1953) – film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor
- Nasra Agil – Somali-Canadian civil engineer and entrepreneur
- Omar A. Ali – entrepreneur, accountant, philanthropist, and specialist on Islamic finance; formerly CEO of DMI Trust, currently chairman of Integrated Property Investments Ltd and Quadron investments
- Abdirashid Duale – entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the CEO of the multinational enterprise Dahabshiil
- Liban Abdi Egal – founder and Chairman of First Somali Bank
- Faisal Hawar – engineer and entrepreneur; CEO, President, and co-founder of the International Somalia Development Foundation as well as the Maakhir Resource Company
- Amina Moghe Hersi (b. 1963) – entrepreneur; has launched several multimillion-dollar projects in Kampala, Uganda, such as the Oasis Centre luxury mall and the Laburnam Courts; runs Kingstone Enterprises Limited, one of the largest distributors of cement and other hardware materials in Kampala
- Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim – twin fashion designers and owners of the Mataano brand
- Aden Mohammed – banker and entrepreneur; managing director of Barclays Bank in East and West Africa; under his tenure BBK won the Banker Awards 2009
- Hussein Mohamed – entrepreneur; Vice Chairman of the Eastleigh Business Association
- Hodan Nalayeh – media executive and entrepreneur; President of the Cultural Integration Agency and the Vice President of Sales & Programming Development of Cameraworks Productions International
- Hussein Shire – businessman; founder and former CEO of Gateway Bus Company
- Mona Kosar Abdi – Somali-American multimedia journalist
- Hassan Abdillahi – journalist and social activist; founder and Chairman of Ogaal Radio
- Mohamoud Sheikh Dalmar – journalist and Islamic scholar
- Rageh Omaar (b. 1967) – Somali-British author and television news presenter; formerly a BBC news correspondent; in 2009, he moved to a new post at Al Jazeera English, where he currently presents the nightly weekday documentary series Witness
- Mohamed Abshir Waldo – political activist and journalist
- Ahmed Mohamed Kismayo – Somali journalist (died 2017)
- Abdirahman Yabarow – journalist; Editor-in-Chief of the VOA's Somali service
- Abdulqawi Yusuf (b. 1948) – international lawyer, judge and former President of the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
- Adan Haji Ali – judge and current Chief Justice of Somaliland
- Khadra Hussein Mohammad – lawyer and first National Deputy Prosecutor in Somaliland
- Yusuf Haji Nur – former judge and President of the Supreme Court of the autonomous region of Puntland.
- Haji Yusuf Barre – commander of the biggest battle in Darawiish history, i.e. Jidbali; was the sole defender of Taleh Dhulbahante garesa
- Sheikh Hassan Barsane – religious and nationalist leader who fought for freedom in the Somalia and fought many wars with Italy
- Yusuf Agararan – led most successful Darawiish raid since Dul Madoba
- Ibraahin Xoorane – Darawiish commander who killed Richard Corfield
- Axmed Aarey – Darawiish artillery commander who abetted Richard Corfield's death
- Afqarshe Ismail – former Darawiish spokesman-poet; first person to die in an airstrike in Africa
- Nur Hedik – commander of the Dooxato (Darawiish cavalry); a Shiikhyaale regiment is named after him
- General Mohamed Abshir Muse – First General, the commander of Somalia police 1960 1968
- General Nuh Ismail Tani – current Chief of Staff of Somaliland Armed Forces
- Abdikarim Yusuf Adam – army officer and Chief of TFG Army
- Muktar Hussein Afrah – officer in the army of the Transitional Federal Government
- Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (c. 1507–1543) – 16th-century Imam and military commander; led the Conquest of Abyssinia
- Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (b. 1944) – Islamist leader in Somalia and military leader in the Islamic Courts Union
- Mohammed Hussein Ali (b. 1956) – major general in the Kenyan Army and former Commissioner of the Kenya Police
- Botan Ise Alin (Bootaan Ciise Caalin) – former faction leader and former member of the Transitional Federal Government
- Osman Ali Atto (Cismaan Xasan Cali) (b. 1940) – faction leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance
- Akil Dhahar – leader of the Sanaag region and some portions of the Bari region
- Matan ibn Uthman Al Somali (c. 1500–1531) – 16th century general of the Adal Sultanate
- Hasna Doreh – early 20th-century Somali female commander of Diiriye Guure
- Abdillahi Fadal Iman (1960–2019) – former Commissioner of Somaliland Police Force
- Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade (Maxamed Ibraahim Xaabsade) – rebel soldier
- Hussein Hasan – famous warrior and poet
- Farah Nur – warrior and poet
- Guled Haji – wise sage and commander
- Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (1856–1920) – Dervish movement during the Scramble for Africa
- Ibrahim Boghol – commander of the Dervish movement
- Daud Abdulle Hirsi (1960–1965) – Somali general, considered the father of the Somali Military
- Ahmed Madobe – chairman and military commander of Raskamboni movement
- Salaad Gabeyre Kediye (d. 1972) – major general in the Somali military; a revolutionary
- Mohamed Adan Saqadhi (b. 1967) – current Commissioner of Somaliland Police Force
- Mahamoud Mohamed – former Chief of General Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces
- Mohamed Afrah Qanyare (Maxamed Qanyare Afrax) (b. 1941) – former faction leader
- Abdi Qeybdid (Cabdi Xasan Cawaale Qeybdiid) (b. 1948) – militia leader affiliated with the Somali National Alliance
- Muhammad Ali Samatar – former Minister of Defense; first Vice President; Grand Commander of the Somali National Army (1969-1987)
- Yusuf Ahmed Sarinle (d. 2005) – general, commander of the Transitional National Government police force
- Osman Omar Wehliye – commander of the Somali Police Force from March 2011
- Ahmed Abdi Godane – former military leader of Al-Shabaab
- Kite Fiqi – warrior and poet
- General Yusuf Tallan – former Somali military commander
- Halima Aden (b. September 19, 1997) – American fashion model. She is noted for being the first Somali-American to compete and become a semi-finalist in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant.[1]
- Jawahir Ahmed (b. 1991) – Somali-American model; as Miss Somalia, won 2013 Miss Africa Utah and was 2nd runner up in the 2013 Miss United Nations USA pageant
- Waris Dirie (b. 1965) – model, author, actress and human rights activist
- Ubah Hassan – Somali-Canadian model
- Iman (Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid) (b. 1955) – international fashion icon, supermodel, actress and entrepreneur
- Fatima Siad (b. 1986) – third-place finisher on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10; professional model
- Mona Tougaard – Danish-born model
- Yasmin Warsame (b. 1976) – Somali-Canadian model; in 2004, she was named "The Most Alluring Canadian" in a poll by Fashion magazine
- Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (c. 1506 – February 21, 1543) – Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate who invaded Abyssinia and defeated several Abyssinian emperors.
- Ali ibn Sabr ad-Din (fl. after 1344) – Somali Governor of the Ifat Sultanate
- Haqq ad-Din I (fl. 1328) – Somali Emir of the Sultanate of Ifat
- Jamal ad-Din I (fl. mid-14th century) – Somali Governor of the Ifat Sultanate
- Sabr ad-Din I (fl. 1332) – Somali Emir of the Ifat Sultanate
- Haqq ad-Din II (ruled late 14th century) – Somali Sultan of the Ifat Sultanate
- Sa'ad ad-Din II (ruled c. 1400) – Somali Sultan of the Ifat Sultanate
- Diiriye Guure – head of the Dhulbahante during Dervish era[2]
- Ibrahim Adeer – Somali Sultan; founder of the Sultanate of the Geledi
- Osman Ahmed – last Sultan of the Geledi Sultanate
- Ahmad ibn Ali (fl. mid-14th century) – Somali Governor of the Ifat Sultanate
- Arrawelo – Somali Queen of 300 B.C.
- Gerad Ali Dable (d. 1503) – 12th Sultan of the Warsangali Sultanate
- Guled Abdi – first Grand sultan of the Isaaq
- Farah Guled – second Grand Sultan of the Isaaq
- Gerad Dhidhin (d. 1311) – founder of the Warsangali Sultanate
- Olol Diinle – last Sultan of the Neo-Ajuran Sultanate
- Deria Sugulleh Ainashe – second Sultan of the Habr Yunis
- Awad Deria – fifth Sultan of the Habr Yunis
- Mahamud Ibrahim – second Sultan of the Sultanate of the Geledi
- Yusuf Mahamud Ibrahim – third Sultan of the Geledi Sultanate and victor of the Bardera wars
- Ali Yusuf Kenadid – second Sultan of the Sultanate of Hobyo
- Hassan Farah – third Grand Sultan of the Isaaq
- Yusuf Ali Kenadid – Somali ruler, and the founder of the Sultanate of Hobyo in the 1880s
- Osman Mahamuud – King of the Majeerteen Sultanate in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries
- Mahfuz – Emir of Harar and Governor of Zeila in the Adal Sultanate
- Abdillahi Deria – fifth Grand Sultan of the isaaq Garhejis [Eidagale]
- Abdulrahman Deria – Sultan of the Habr Awal
- Nur ibn Mujahid (d. 1567) – 16th-century Somali Emir and patron saint of Harar
- Faduma Sarjelle – Somali princess of the House of Garen
- Mohamoud Ali Shire (d. 1960) – 26th Sultan of the Warsangali Sultanate from 1897 to 1960
- Hersi Aman – legendary 3rd Sultan of the Habr Yonis
- Ahmed Yusuf (d. 1878) – fourth Sultan of the Gobroon Dynasty well versed in Islam and dominant in the Banadir
- Nur Ahmed Aman (d. 1908) – fourth Habr Yunis Sultan & major Dervish leader
- Deria Hassan – fourth Sultan of the Isaaq clan
- Asli Hassan Abade – first Somali female pilot; prominent member of the Somali Air Force; paved the way for gender equality within the military ranks
- Ali Matan Hashi – first Somali pilot and prominent member of SRC
- Mustafa Mohamed Moalim (Mustafa Maxamed Macalin) (1943–2009) – first Somali fighter pilot; chief of the Somali Air Force School; chief of the Somali Air Force Operations
- Muse Bihi Abdi – Somali air pilot
- Khalif Isse Mudan – Balidoogle military base pilot
Presidents of Somalia
- Abdiqasim Salad (Cabdiqaasim Salaad Xasan) (b. 1941) – former President of Somalia
- Ali Mahdi Muhammad (1938–2021) – fourth President of Somalia
- Abdirashid Shermarke (1919–1969) – second President of Somalia
- Aden Daar (1908–2007) – Somali politician and the country's first president
- Siad Barre (1919–1995) – third President of Somalia
- Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (1934–2012) – former President of Somalia, first President of Puntland, founder of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, the Puntland State of Somalia, and the Transitional Federal Government
- Muse Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle (b. 1940) – former acting President of Somalia and former Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia; former General in the Somali National Army
- Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (b. 1964) – former President of Somalia and former Chairman of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia. He was also Commander in Chief of the Islamic Courts Union.
Presidents of Puntland
- Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (1934–2012) – former President of Somalia, first President of Puntland, founder of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, the Puntland State of Somalia, and the Transitional Federal Government
- Yusuf Haji Nur (Yuusuf Xaaji Nuur) – former acting President of Puntland
- Jama Ali Jama – former President of Puntland
- Mohamed Abdi Hashi (d. July 12, 2020) – First Vice President of Puntland (1998-2004) and Second President of Puntland ~interim (2004-2005)
- Mohamud Muse Hersi Cadde (d. August 1, 2020) – Third President of Puntland (2005-2009)
- Abdirahman Farole (b. 1945) – Fourth President of Puntland (2009-2014)
- Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas (b. 1963) – Fifth President of Puntland (2014-2019)
- Said Abdullahi Deni (b. 1965) – Sixth and current President of Puntland (
2019)
- Hassan Dahir Afqurac (d. 2013) – Third Vice President of Puntland (2005 –2009)
- Abdisamad Ali Shire (d. 2021) – Fourth Vice President of Puntland (2009-2014)
- Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar Amey – Fifth Vice President of Puntland (2014-2019)
- Ahmed Elmi Osman Karaash – Sixth and current Vice President of Puntland (
Presidents of Somaliland
- Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur (1931–2003) – first President of Somaliland 1991-1993
- Abdirahman Aw Ali Farrah – third Vice President of Somaliland 1995-1997
- Dahir Riyale Kahin (b. 1952) – third President of Somaliland 2002-2010
- Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (b. 1936) – fourth President of Somaliland 2010-2017
- Muse Bihi Abdi (b. 1948) – fifth and current President of Somaliland 2017-?
Presidents of Djibouti
- Hassan Gouled Aptidon (1916–2006) – first President of Djibouti, 1977-1999
- Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (b. 1947) – second and current President of Djibouti
Acting Presidents
- Mohamed Jawari – acting President of Somalia and incumbent Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia
- Aden Madobe – former acting President of Somalia
- Michael Mariano (d. 1987) – Somali Youth League member, Ambassador, and notable advocate for occupied Somalis in Ethiopia
Prime ministers
- Cabbaas Xuseen – first prime minister of the Darawiish (1895–1900)
- Abdirashid Shermarke – first Prime Minister of Somalia after independence ~1960
- Xaashi Suni Fooyaan – peace-time prime minister of the Darawiish (1905–1906)
- Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Abdiweli Gaas – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Osman Jama Ali (Cismaan Jaamac Cali) (b. 1941) – Prime Minister under the Transitional National Government
- Muse Bihi Abdi (b. 1948) – former military officer; Chairman of the Peace, Unity, and Development Party and current President of Somaliland
- Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal) (1993–2002) – President of Somaliland and former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Hassan Abshir Farah (Xasan Abshir Faarax) (b. 1945) – former Prime Minister of Somalia, former Mayor of Mogadishu, and MP
- Ali Khalif Galaydh (Cali Khalif Galaydh) (1941–2020) – former Prime Minister of Somalia under the Transitional National Government
- Umar Arteh Ghalib (Cumar Carte Qaalib) (1922–2020) – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Ali Ghedi (Cali Maxamed Geedi) (b. 1951) – former Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
- Abdiwahid Gonjeh – former Acting Prime Minister of Somalia
- Abdi Farah Shirdon – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Abdirizak Haji Hussein (Cabdirasaaq Xaaji Xuseen) (1924–2014) – Prime Minister of Somalia early in the 1960s
- Nur Hassan Hussein (Nuur Xasan Xuseen "Nuur Cade") (1938–2020) – former Prime Minister of the TFG
- Abdullahi Issa (Cabdullahi Ciise Maxamuud) (1922–1988) – first Prime Minister of Somalia
- Muhammad Abdi Yusuf – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Hassan Ali Khaire (b. 1968) – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ("Farmajo") (b. 1962) – former Prime Minister of Somalia and current President
- Omar Sharmarke (b. 1960) – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Mohamed Hussein Roble – former Prime Minister of Somalia
- Hamza Abdi Barre – current Prime Minister of Somalia
Other politicians
- Asha Ahmed Abdalla – Somali parliamentarian and activist
- Yusuf Hassan Abdi (b. 1958) – senior Somali diplomat; Member of Kenya Parliament
- Zahra Abdulla (b. 1966) – Somali politician in Finland; a member of the Helsinki City Council, representing the Green League
- Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi – former speaker of House of Representatives of Somaliland and founder of Waddani Party
- Fowziya Yusuf Haji Adan – former Foreign Minister of Somalia
- Abdullahi Ahmed Addow (Cabdilaahi Axmed Caddoow) (b. 1936) – senior Somali politician and diplomat
- Ali Mohamed Ahmed – Head of Somali Business union and former Somali Customs Manager; Former Adviser of Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed
- Mohamed Kahin Ahmed – current Minister of Interior of Somaliland
- Abdurrahman Mahmoud Aidiid – current Mayor of Hargesia
- Mohamed Farrah Aidid (Maxamed Faarax Caydiid) (1934–1996) – chairman of the United Somali Congress and later the Somali National Alliance
- Fatuma Ibrahim Ali – Somali legislator; MP in National Assembly of Kenya
- Abdihakim Amey – Vice President of Puntland
- Abukar Arman – Somali writer and diplomat; former Special Envoy of Somalia to the United States
- Hassan Dahir Aweys (Xasan Daahir Aweys) (b. 1935) – head of the 90-member Shura council of the Islamic Courts Union
- Abdirahman Jama Barre – former Foreign Minister of Somalia and close relative of Siad Barre; longest-serving Somali diplomat
- Haji Bashir – first President of the Somali National Assembly; former Minister of Health and Labour of Somalia
- Fatimo Isaak Bihi – ambassador to Geneva and former Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ali Dhere – cleric; head of the first Islamic Courts Union in Mogadishu in 1996; spokesman for Al-Shabaab
- Hussein Ali Duale (Xuseen Cali Ducaale) – former Finance Minister of Somaliland, and former ambassador of Somalia to Kenya and Uganda
- Hussein Abdi Dualeh – former Minister of Energy & Minerals of Somaliland
- Adan Ahmed Elmi – former Minister of Agriculture of Somaliland
- Bashe Mohamed Farah – speaker of the House of Representatives of Somaliland
- Adde Gabow (Mohamed Ali Hassan or Maxamed Cali Xasan) – former governor of the Banaadir region and mayor of Mogadishu
- Suleiman Haglotosiye – former Minister of Health of Somaliland
- Anisa Hajimumin – Somali-American politician, social activist and writer; Minister of Women & Family Affairs of Puntland
- Bur'i Mohamed Hamza – State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia
- Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi – politician; MP and former Minister of State for Planning and International Cooperation of Puntland
- Abdishakur Mohamoud Hassan – current Mayor of Berbera
- Ahmed M. Hassan – Somali American member-elect of the Clarkston City Council
- Hassan Abdallah Hassan – current Mayor of Bosaso
- Mohamed Moallim Hassan – politician who served as minister of fishery and marine resources of Somalia, 2010-2011
- Sadak Omar Hassan – politician and Brigadier General[3]
- Mark Hendrick (b. 1958) – Somali-British politician and Labour Co-operative Member of Parliament
- Mohamud Siraji – Member of Somali Parliament
- Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig (Cabdirashiid Maxamed Xidig) – Member of Parliament in the Transitional Federal Parliament
- Sheikh Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein (Sheekh Mukhtaar Maxamed Xuseen) (b. 1912) – speaker of parliament and interim president
- Zakia Hussein – politician; Secretary General of the Hanoolaato Party
- Halima Ismail Ibrahim – Chair of Somalia's National Independent Electoral Commission
- Mohamed Mohamud Ibrahim (b. 1946/47) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia
- Jaylaani Nur Ikar – first Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia
- Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade (Yuusuf Maxamed Siyaad "Indhacadde") – member of the Islamic Courts Union
- Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Cabdullaahi Sheekh Ismaaciil) – deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the TFG
- Edna Adan Ismail (Edna Aadan Ismaaciil) (b. 1937) – former Foreign Minister of Somaliland
- Ismail Ali Ismail – writer and former diplomat
- Bashir Isse – Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia
- Ali Ibrahim Jama – current Governor of the Central Bank of Somaliland
- Ahmed Sheikh Jama – academician, writer, poet and politician; former Minister of Information of Puntland
- Farah Ali Jama – politician; former Minister of Finance of Puntland
- Abdirizak Jurile – Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (1989-1991); Minister of Planning and International cooperation (2005-2008); Minister of telecommunications (2009-2011); Member of the Upper House of the Federal Government of Somalia; Senator (2016)
- Maryam Kassim – Minister of Social Development of Somalia
- Mohamed Kiimiko – politician and diplomat
- Farah Maalim – current deputy speaker of the Kenyan parliament
- Mahboub Maalim – diplomat; Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development
- Hassan Ali Mire – politician; first Minister of Education of the Somali Democratic Republic
- Abdinur Sheikh Mohamed – Somali-American educator and politician; former Minister of Education, Higher Education and Culture of Somalia
- Ali Omar Mohamed – former Manager of Berbera Port
- Amina Mohamed – former Chairman of the International Organization for Migration and the World Trade Organisation's General Council, and current Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya
- Hussein Maalim Mohamed – former Kenyan Minister of State in the office of the president
- Hassan Haji Mohamoud – former Minister of Education of Somaliland
- Yasin Haji Mohamoud – current Foreign Minister of Somaliland
- Mohamed Hassan Maidane – current Mayor of Borama
- Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan (Maxamed Siciid Xirsi Moorgan) – son-in-law of Siad Barre and Minister of Defense of Somalia
- Ismail Qasim Naji (Ismaaciil Qaasim Naaji) – chief of staff of the Transitional Federal Government
- Ahmed Abdi Ogle (1937–2006) – first Somali to serve in the Kenyan Parliament in the 60s; three times elected and served as Assistant Minister and later Deputy Mayor of Nairobi
- Daud Mohamed Omar – Minister of Mineral Resources of Somalia
- Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar – former Foreign Minister of Somalia
- Mohammad Abdullahi Omar – politician; former Foreign Minister of Somaliland
- Daud Mohamed Omar – Minister of Mineral Resources of Somalia
- Ilhan Omar – U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 5th congressional district
- Mohamed Amin Osman – member of the Transitional Federal Parliament
- Sheikhnor Abikar Qassim – founder of one of the Southern Somali Union
- Saynab Qayad – member of the Transitional federal parliament of Somalia
- Ali Said Raygal – former Minister of Youth and Sports of Somaliland
- Yusuf Warsame Saeed – former Mayor of Hargeisa
- Abdirahman Saylici – current Vice President of Somaliland
- Mohamed Aden Sheikh (c. 1925–2010) – intellectual, former head of Somali Technological Development, former Minister of Education, and former Minister of Health
- Dr. Saad Ali Shire – current Finance Minister of Somaliland
- Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji (1985-2017) – Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction
- Faysal Ali Warabe – engineer and politician; founder and Chairman of (UCID political party
- Abdi Warsame – Somali American member-elect of the Minneapolis City Council
- Saado Ali Warsame – singer-songwriter and politician; former MP in the Federal Parliament of Somalia
- Adan Keynan Wehliye – Kenyan politician and long time member of parliament from Wajir
- Ahmed Yusuf Yasin (b. 1957) – former Vice President of Somaliland
- Mohamed Bihi Yonis (b. 1947) – Deputy Joint United Nations African Union Special Representative for Darfur and former Foreign Minister of Somaliland
- Maryan Abdullahi Yusuf – banker; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia
- Ahmed Abdallah Wayel – former Minister of Education (2012)
- Aden Ibrahim Aw Hirsi (b. 1968) – Somali politician, Sufi, author, educator and poet; the governor of Gedo region, 2006–2009
- Abdusalam Abubakar (b. 1989/90) – one of the youngest winners of the BT Young Scientist of the Year Award; later went on to win the European Union Contest for Young Scientists for his project, An Extension of Wiener's Attack on RSA
- Hassan al-Jabarti (d. 1774) – mathematician, theologian, astronomer and philosopher, considered one of the great scholars of the 18th century
- Ali Said Faqi – scientist and the leading researcher on the design and interpretation of toxicology studies at the MPI research center in Mattawan, Michigan
- Jama Musse Jama (b. 1967) – ethnomathematician and author; known for his research on traditional Somali board games such as Shax and the history of mathematics in the Horn of Africa and the founder of Hargeisa Cultural Center
- Ahmed Mumin Warfa – scientist, specialised in botany and jointly discovered the Cyclamen somalense, the first genus from tropical Africa with his colleague Mats Thulin; the "world's pre-eminent authority on frankincense"; professor at Salt Lake Community College
- Ishaaq bin Ahmed – 12th century cleric and forefather of the large Isaaq clan-family
- Abd al Aziz al-Amawi (1832–1896) – 19th-century diplomat, historian, poet, jurist and scholar living in the Sultanate of Zanzibar
- Sheikh Abdulkadir Nur Farah – Somali Cleric assassinated by Al-Shabab 2013
- Uways al-Barawi (1847–1909) – scholar credited with reviving Islam in 19th-century East Africa and with followers in Yemen and Indonesia
- Sheikh Madar (1825–1918) – Qadiriyya leader who was influential in the expansion of Hargeisa
- Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti (1753–1825) – scholar living in Cairo; recorded the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt
- Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti (fl. 10th-11th centuries) – early Muslim leader and forefather of the Darod clan
- Ali al-Jabarti (d. 1492) – 15th-century scholar and politician in the Mamluk Empire
- Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn – 13th-century scholar and saint; associated with the development of Wadaad's writing
- Abdallah al-Qutbi (1879–1952) – polemicist theologian and philosopher; best known for his Al-Majmu'at al-mubaraka ("The Blessed Collection"), a five-part compilation of polemics
- Abd Al-Rahman bin Ahmad al-Zayla'i (1820–1882) – scholar; played a crucial role in the spread of the Qadiriyya movement in Somalia and East Africa
- Abadir Umar Ar-Rida – 13th-century cleric and saint of Harar; forefather of the Sheekhaal Somali clan
- Sa'id of Mogadishu – 14th-century scholar and traveler; his reputation as a scholar earned him audiences with the Emirs of Mecca and Medina; travelled across the Muslim world and visited Bengal and China
- Shaykh Sufi – born Abdul-Rahman bin Abdallah al Shashi (Arabic: عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله شاشي) (1829–1904), 19th-century scholar, poet, reformist and astrologist
- Uthman bin Ali Zayla'i (d. 1342) – 14th-century theologian and jurist who wrote the single most authoritative text on the Hanafi school of Islam, four volumes known as the Tabayin al-Haqa'iq li Sharh Kanz al-Daqa'iq
- Hussain Bisad – tallest Somali man alive; has the largest hand span in the world
- Haji Ali Majeerteen – popularly known as al-Majeerteen; was a Somali Sheikh and poet
- "Somali-American teen to be first fully covered Muslim contestant in Miss Minnesota USA". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2017-04-02.
- Spearce, Walter (August 1903). Somali Campaign.
The third leader is Deeria Goori, of the Dolbahanta tribe, who was badly wounded at the Battle of Gunrburru ... These men are the heads of their respective tribes, and are all wealthy and powerful.
- "Waa kuma Saadaq Joon?". BBC News Somali (in Somali). Retrieved 2024-01-07.