Government

Abdirahman Abdullahi Baadiyow who was born in 1954 in Galguduud in central Somalia.

Baadiyow joined the Somali National Army in 1971, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and remained in active duty until 1986, when he left the military due to President Siad Barre's military response against clan-based armed factions that were emerging against his regime.

After leaving the armed forces, he enrolled at McGill University in Canada where he earned a master's degree and a PhD in Islamic studies.

He returned to Somalia in 1993 as the East Africa Regional Director of Mercy-USA for Aid and Development, a non-profit organization that works to provide relief and promotes economic and educational development.

In 1996, he co-founded Mogadishu University where he serves as the current chairman of the Board of Trustees.

In 2000, Baadiyow took part in the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Djibouti and was selected as a member of the Technical Committee charged with overseeing the charter for the Transitional National Government.