Abdirahman Barre

Abdirahman Jama Barre (Somali: Cabdiraxmaan Jaamac Barre, Arabic: عبد الرحمن جامع بري‎) (1937 – 15 August 2017[1]) was a Somali politician. He twice served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Somali Democratic Republic, and later as the Minister of Finance. He was also the 1st Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia.

Abdirahman Jama Barre عبد الرحمن جامع بري
Minister of Finance of the Somali Democratic Republic
In office 1987 – January 1991
Vice President	Muhammad Ali Samatar
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Somali Democratic Republic
In office 1989–1990
Vice President	Muhammad Ali Samatar
1st Deputy Prime Minister of the Somali Democratic Republic
In office 1987 – January 1991
Vice President	Muhammad Ali Samatar
Preceded by	Office established
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Somali Democratic Republic
In office July 27, 1977 – 1987
Personal details
Born	1937 (1937) Luuq, Italian Somaliland
Died	15 August 2017 (aged 79) San Diego, California, United States
Political party	Supreme Revolutionary Council
Relations	Mohamed Siad Barre
Children	8
Alma mater	University of Padua

Personal life

Jama Barre was born in 1937 in the southern town of Luuq, Italian Somaliland.[2] He hails from the Marehan Darod clan.[3] He is a half brother of former President of Somalia, Mohamed Siad Barre.[4] Abdirahman's brother Abdullahi Jama Barre "Asasey" was also active in Somali politics.[5]

Jama Barre pursued higher studies abroad. For his tertiary education, he earned a PhD in the early 1960s from the teaching faculty at the University of Padua in Padua, Italy.[4][2]

Jama Barre was married, and had seven children. He also had eight children from his first marriage. He enjoyed lawn tennis.[2]

Career

Jama Barre began his professional career upon graduation from university. Initially, he briefly served as a headmaster.[2]

In 1960, Jama Barre joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Somali Republic's early civilian administration. He received his first diplomatic post the same year, working as a counsellor until 1964. Jama Barre was concurrently promoted to Director of the ministry's Economic and Social Department as well as Director-General of its Social Department. He served as such for the next four years. Between 1969 and 1970, he was also the Acting Director-General of both departments.[2]

In 1970, following the bloodless coup d'état of the year before, Jama Barre was named Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the new ruling Supreme Revolutionary Council. He subsequently became a member of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SSRP) in 1976, sitting on the political association's Central Committee.[2]

In July 1977, Jama Barre was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.[6][7] He represented the Somali Democratic Republic in this capacity at the United Nations General Assembly.[8]

Along with then Foreign Minister of Ethiopia Goshu Wolde, Jama Barre was also part of a seven-person Somalia-Ethiopia committee. The intergovernmental panel was formed in 1986.[9]

Toward the end of 1987, Jama Barre was appointed the 1st Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia.[2] Abdiqassim Salad Hassan served alongside him as the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister.[10] Jama was concurrently named Minister of Finance and Treasury.[2][11] In 1989, he was reappointed Foreign Minister, with his second term in the office lasting a year.[12] He would hold both 1st Deputy Prime and Finance Minister positions until the collapse of the central government in January 1991.[2][11]

Additionally, Jama Barre was part of the governmental Suhl (reconciliation) group, of which Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, who would go on to become President of Somalia, was a key founder.[13]

In 2004, following the establishment of the Transitional Federal Government, Jama Barre presented himself as a candidate for President of Somalia. He lost out to then President of the autonomous Puntland region, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.[12]

See also

• Somali Youth League

Notes

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2017-08-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. Uwechue, Ralph (1991). Africa Who's Who. Africa Journal Limited. p. 302. ISBN 0903274175. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
3. "A surreal presidential election". The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
4. Somali National Movement (1986). Liberty: Magazine of the Somali National Movement, Issues 2-4. The Movement. p. 7. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
5. Dool, Abdullahi (1999). Dhaqan-akhris Oo La'aantiisu Waxyeello U Leh Horumarka Dal Iyo Ummad. Horn Heritage Publications. p. 5. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
6. Legum, Colin; Bill Lee; Zdenek Červenka (1979). The Horn of Africa in Continuing Crisis. Africana Pub. Co. p. 86. ISBN 0-8419-0491-X.
7. Gulf News, WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 1980
8. Barre, Abdurahman Jama (1983). Statement by Jaalle Dr. Abdirahman Jama Barre, Minister for Foreign Affairs, of the Somali Democratic Republic, at the General Debate of the 38th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Permanent Mission of the Somali Democratic Republic to the United Nations. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
9. Foreign Report, Issues 1902-1949. Economist Newspaper Limited. 1986. p. 143. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
10. National Foreign Assessment Center (U.S.)., United States. Central Intelligence Agency, United States. Central Intelligence Agency. Directorate of Intelligence (1990). Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments, Issues 1-6. The Center. p. 71. Retrieved 10 February 2015.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
11. Africa Research Bulletin: Political series, Volume 26. Africa Research Limited. 1989. p. 9245.
12. Banque d'information et de documentation de l'océan Indien (Paris, France) (2003). I.O.N., Issues 1024-1069. Indian Ocean Information and Documentation Bank. p. 70. Retrieved 25 February 2015.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
13. Africa analysis: the fortnightly bulletin on financial and political trends, Issues 350-362. Africa Analysis Ltd. 2000. pp. 355–356.

References

• Foreign ministers S-Z - Somalia