Abdirahman was born in Luuq in 1934 and came to Mogadishu as
a child under the care of his older brother, Mohamed Siad Barre, who was working
as a police officer. Abdirahman fondly recalled his early days in the capital.
On one occasion, he came home to request money to buy a
snack, and his brother gave him a half-shillings. It was good money for a child
growing of the 1940s, but to Abdirahman, the money was a symbol of the love and
care his brother had for him as an orphan. Abdirahman saw Siad Barre not only as
his brother, but also as a father figure and mentor. This enduring relationship
would last six decades.
Abdirahman received his early education during the Colonial
period. Later, he became a teacher and taught in places like Buur Hakaba in the
Bay region during the 1950s. In 1960, he was one of the first employees ever hired
by Somalia’s then-nascent Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He won a scholarship to Italy, where he studied political
economy. In light of the scarcity of university graduates in Somalia in the
early 1960s, Abdirahman became an administrator in the foreign ministry after
his return from Italy. In 1969, Abdirahman’s brother, Siad, staged a military
coup and became the supreme leader of the country.
The turning point for Abdirahman was on July 27, 1977, when his
brother named him Foreign Minister. It was an appointment that raised eyebrows
among critics of the regime. Some saw the assignment as a classic example of
nepotism. Abdirahman, however, believed he had paid his dues, given his
undisputed seniority in that ministry. His first challenge arose from the fact
that he had replaced Omar Arte Ghalib, an articulate, charismatic, and
multilingual politician. Abdirahman had big shoes to fill. What he lacked in
charisma, however, he made up for with his work ethic and sheer determination.
He was known for his relentless, singular focus. Abdirahman
was the ultimate bureaucrat in a job that required exceptional strides in
public relations. President Siad rarely traveled abroad and instead delegated to
Abdirahman the responsibility of representing the country at the international conferences.
Abdirahman was the longest-serving Somali foreign minister
(10 years). In 1987, he became a finance minister and deputy prime minister.
After the civil war began in 1991, he briefly became involved in politics again.
He and his family came to the United States in 1993 and settled in the
outskirts of San Diego. In his spare time, he started writing his political
memoir, which was never completed. When I asked him why he had stopped writing the
book, Abdirahman offered a mischievous grin. “My own people [clan] will not be happy
with its publication,” he said. He was frank in his political views to the
point of bluntness, and even criticized the way Somalia was run in the 1980s.
When President Siad Barre had a car accident in 1986, which
compromised his abilities and vitality, a power struggle ensued. On the one
hand, Siad Barre’s powerful wife, Khadija Moalim, became a power broker and waged
a campaign to groom her oldest son, Maslah, as heir apparent. There was a
second faction that portrayed itself as the “constitutionalists,” led by Ahmed
Suleiman Dafle, who was the president’s son-in-law and a high-ranking official.
This group called for the vice president, Mohamed Ali Samatar, to replace Siad
in the case of his death or incapacitation. A third faction included Abdirahman
and his friend General Adan Gabiyow, a former defense minister.
The power struggle was so intense that the president—or
someone representing him— orchestrated Abdirahman’s demotion as a cabinet
minister. It was, perhaps, the lowest point in the brotherly relationship. However,
it was short duration, and the two were able to mend their fractured
relationship. Many years later, Abdirahman lamented the missed opportunity in
that juncture of the country’s history. He thought that a peaceful transfer of
power would have prevented the civil war that occurred four years later and
lasted 20 years.
In 2004, Abdirahman briefly came out of retirement and ran
against Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf for the presidency. He lost and immediately
returned to San Diego.
Abdirahman had three distinct qualities for which he was
widely known by his friends and associates.
Firstly, he was a devout father who doted on his children. The
once globetrotting diplomat became a suburban father in San Diego. He embraced
his new role with verve, regularly taking his children to school, games, and
practices, and attending parent teacher conferences.
Secondly, Abdirahman was a good conversationalist who regaled
people with exotic stories about encounters with famous world leaders,
including meeting six American presidents, from Kennedy to George H. W. Bush.
He met nearly all African and Arab leaders and even developed personal
relationships with some, such as the current emir of Kuwait, who was once a
foreign minister of his country. Abdirahman also loved telling stories about Sayyid
Mohamed Abdillahi Hassan, the father of Somali nationalism. Abdirahman was also
known for his wry sense of humor. He had a habit of giving nicknames to people,
especially the parents of his children’s schoolmates.
Finally, Abdirahman was an ardent nationalist and a believer
of Somali unity. For fifty years, he constantly warned others about the grand designs
that neighboring countries—especially Ethiopia—had for Somalia. Today, both Ethiopia
and Kenya have troops inside Somalia.
Abdirahman will best be remembered for his dedication to his
children, his strong commitment to protecting the sovereignty of Somalia, and
his story-telling abilities. In addition to his wife, Lul Mohamed Nur, he is survived
by 17 children and countless grandchildren. His marriage to his first wife, Zahra Hussein, and
the mother of his eight children, ended in divorce. May God bless his soul and
reward him bountifully.
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