Mahamoud Sufi Mohamed
Sheikh Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed | |
|---|---|
Sheekh Maxamuud Suufi Muxumed | |
| Minister of Religion and Endowments | |
| In office July 2003 – July 2010 | |
| President | Dahir Riyale Kahin |
| Succeeded by | Khalil Abdillahi Ahmed |
| Member of the Ulema Council | |
| In office June 2017 – 16 April 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1924/1925 |
| Died | 16 April 2023 Hargeisa, Somaliland |
| Resting place | Abu-riin, southwest of Hargeisa |
Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed (Somali: Sheekh Maxamuud aw Suufi Muxumed; c. 1924/1925 – 16 April 2023) was a Somaliland Islamic scholar, religious leader, and politician. He served as Minister of Religion and Endowments from 2003 to 2010 and later as a member of the constitutionally mandated Ulema Council from 2017 until his death.
Sheikh and Aw are an honorific and are often omitted.
Biography
He was a Sufi-oriented Islamic scholar (Jamaaca Suufiya).[1]
Constitution Preparation Committee
In 1997, Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed was selected as one of the 15 members of the Constitution Preparation Committee established at the Hargeisa Conference.[2]
Religion Minister
In July 2003, President Dahir Riyale Kahin announced the third parts of cabinet, and appointed Sheikh Mahamoud Sufi Mohamed as Somaliland's Minister of Religion and Endowments.[3] President Kahin submitted them to the House of Representatives for approval; two of the twelve nominees were rejected. While several approved ministers faced opposition or abstention votes, the Minister of Resettlement, Abdillahi Hussein Iman (Dirawal), and the Minister of Religion and Endowments, Sheikh Mahamoud Sufi, were approved unanimously.[4] After being appointed Minister of Religion and Endowments, he resigned from the House of Elders (Guurti), and the Guurti approved his resignation by a majority vote.[5]
In July 2010, Somaliland experienced a transfer of power, and Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud “Silanyo” became president; Silanyo appointed Sheikh Khalil Abdillahi Ahmed as Minister of Religious Affairs, succeeding Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed.[6]
Former Religion Minister
In August 2010, a nationwide Qur'an recitation competition was held in Hargeisa, and at the closing ceremony Sheikh Mahamoud Sufi Mohamed warned the participating youths not to neglect the Qur'an they had already memorized, saying that failing to uphold it could expose them to punishment.[7]
Ulema Council
In January 2016, after a group of 17 Somaliland Islamic scholars reviewed the commercial banking bill submitted by the Somaliland government, a written statement signed by 12 scholars concluded that the draft law was contrary to Sharia and urged that it be halted; Sheikh Mahamoud Sufi Mohamed was among the scholars named in connection with the opposition to the bill.[8]
The Somaliland Constitution establishes an Ulema Council that is independent of the government, and provides that it shall issue formal religious declarations in cases of religious disagreement and in matters where there is a dispute over whether something is contrary to Sharia, or where the Council itself considers it contrary to Sharia.[9] However, the process took considerable time because there was no consensus on who should select the Ulema Council members or what criteria should be used, prompting public legal clarification of the constitutional appointment procedure.[10] Ultimately, in June 2017, President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud “Silanyo” appointed 12 members to Somaliland's Ulema Council, and Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed was named as the second council member on the published list.[11]
In July 2018, as inter-clan fighting continued in El Afweyn, the Somaliland government dispatched a delegation led by the Interior Minister, and Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed accompanied it as one of the country's prominent scholars.[12]
On 16 April 2023, Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed died at the age of 98[13] in Hargeisa; he was later buried in Abu-riin, southwest of the capital.[14]
References
- ^ "Doodo Ka Taagan Qaabkay Iskula Jaan Qadi Karaan Xubnaha Guddida Culimadu, Jameecooyinka Ay Ku Kala Abtirsadaan Iyo Qodobo Dastuurka Ka Hor Imanaya Oo Ka Muuqda Digreetada Madaxweyne Siilaanyo Ee Magacaabista Guddida Culimada" [Debate Over How the Ulema Council Members Align with Their Religious Groups and Constitutional Issues Seen in President Silanyo’s Decree Appointing the Scholars’ Committee]. Qurbejoog (in Somali). 14 June 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "The Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland (English text)" (PDF). Somaliland Law (archived copy via ACE Project). Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Madaxweyne Rayaale Oo Dhammays-Tiray Dhismaha Xukuumaddiisa Cusub" [President Rayaale Completes the Formation of His New Government]. Haatuf (in Somali). 4 July 2003. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Wakiilada: Wasiiro Lagu Ansixiyay Aqlabiyad Sare, Wasiiro Lala Hadhay, Wasiiro Nidar Loo Jebiyay Iyo Wasiiro Madasha Ku Dhici Waayay" [House of Representatives: Ministers Approved by Large Majorities, Nominees Rejected, Narrowly Decided Votes, and Some Who Failed to Appear in the Chamber]. Haatuf (in Somali). 22 July 2003. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "Madaxweyne Siilaanyo Oo Xoghayihii Dhaqaalaha Ee Wakiilada U Magacaabay Wasiirka Daakhiliga Iyo Mudanayaal Si Kala Fog Uga Hadlay Waafaqsanida Sharciyada Ee Labada Xil" [President Silanyo Appoints the Secretary of the House of Representatives’ Economic Committee as Interior Minister, as MPs Express Divergent Views on the Legal Compatibility of Holding Both Offices]. Haatuf (in Somali). 2 September 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Madaxweyne Siilaanyo Oo Ku Dhawaaqay Golihiisa Wasiiradda Iyo Tirada Wasaaraddaha Oo Wax Iska Bedeleen Sidii La Saadaalinayay" [President Silanyo Announces His Cabinet and the Number of Ministries, with Changes from What Had Been Expected]. Araweelo News (in Somali). 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Hargeysa Iyo Awdal Oo Ku Guulaystay Kaalmaha Hore Ee Tartankii Quraaanka Kariimka Ee Gobollada Dalka" [Hargeisa and Awdal Win the Top Places in Somaliland’s Regional Qur'an Competition]. Araweelo News (archived; reprinting Wargeyska Saxafi, issue 95) (in Somali). 21 August 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "12 ka mid ah Culimada Somaliland oo ku taliyey in la joojiyo Xeerka Baananka Ganacsiga & Sababta keentay" [Twelve Somaliland Scholars Advised Halting the Commercial Banking Law and Explained Why]. Qurbejoog (in Somali). 14 January 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Chapter Five". Government of Somaliland (Official Web Portal). Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Gar-yaqaanka Guud oo Sharraxay Hanaanka Sharci ee Loo Marayo Magacaabista Gudidda Culimada" [The Attorney General Explains the Legal Procedure for Appointing the Ulema Council]. Wargeyska Dawan (in Somali). 14 June 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Madaxweynaha Somaliland oo guddi culimo ah magacaabay" [The President of Somaliland Appoints a Council of Scholars]. BBC News Somali (in Somali). 10 June 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Xukuumada Somaliland Oo Wafti Balaadhan Oo Ergo Ah U Dirtay Deegaanka Ee Ceel-Afwayn" [Somaliland Government Sends a Large Delegation to the El Afweyn Area]. Radio Hormuud (in Somali). 9 July 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "Sheekh Suufi oo kamid ahaa culimada ugu waa wayn gayiga Soomaalida oo Hargaysa ku geeriyooday" [Sheikh Suufi, One of the Most Prominent Somali Scholars in the Somali Territories, Dies in Hargeisa]. Mogadishu Times (in Somali). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Aaska Qaran Oo Lagu Sagootiyay Marxuum Sheekh Maxamuud Suufi Muxumed" [A State Funeral Held for the Late Sheikh Mahamoud Aw Sufi Mohamed]. HargeisaPress (in Somali). 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.