Monday November 18, 2024
Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland political leaders and thousands of mourners gathered in Hargeisa on Monday to attend the funeral prayer of former Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo, a towering figure in the region's history.
Silanyo, who passed away at the age of 86 in Hargeisa, led the Somali National Movement (SNM), founded the ruling Kulmiye party, and served as Somaliland's president from 2010 to 2017.
Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and Waddani party leader Abdirahman Irro praised Silanyo as a statesman who championed efforts to unite the self-declared republic. "He was a political visionary whose legacy will live on in the history of Somaliland," Irro said.
Leaders from Somalia's federal government and other political figures also extended their condolences, reflecting Silanyo's influence across the Somali-speaking regions.
Silanyo retired from politics in 2017 due to age and health concerns, spending his later years in Hargeisa.