Ahmed Yusuf Yasin

Ahmed Yusuf Yasin was born in 1957 in Hargeisa, then part of the British Somaliland Protectorate.^[5] He received his Qur’anic education in Berbera and attended primary and intermediate school in Hargeisa between 1967 and 1974, followed by secondary school in the same city from 1974 to 1976.^[5] After completing his secondary education, he obtained a diploma in accounting from the British Career Training College in Jersey, United Kingdom.^[5]

In 1993, he worked as a supervisor for a Saudi–U.S. joint relief programme known as JECOR, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.^[5] From 1993 to 1997, he served as manager of a livestock-export company named DUBAR.^[5] Between 1995 and 1998, and again in 2000, he undertook further studies in government administration and computer science in Hargeisa.^[5] Since 1997, he has been a member of the Somaliland House of Representatives, and at the time of his appointment as vice president in 2002 he was studying law at the University of Hargeisa.^[5] Contemporary reports described him as a soft-spoken and well-mannered individual, known for his quiet participation in parliamentary debates and his preference for business activities over political confrontation.^[5]

In May 2002, following the death of President Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, Vice President Dahir Riyale Kahin assumed the presidency in accordance with the constitution.^[6] Kahin subsequently nominated Ahmed Yusuf Yasin as Vice President, who took office after joint approval by the two chambers of Parliament (the House of Elders and the House of Representatives).^[7]

In 2003, the presidential election was held; under Somaliland’s constitution the President and Vice President run together on a single ticket.^[8][9] Kahin stood with Yasin as his vice-presidential running mate and won the election; Kahin was sworn in on 19 May 2003 and Yasin became Vice President for the elected term.^[10][11]

In mid-2003, shortly after taking office, Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin delivered a public speech in Borama addressing local residents and community leaders.^[12] He praised Awdal region’s historic role in peacebuilding and education, highlighting Amoud University as a symbol of national progress.^[12] Yasin called for unity, discipline, and social responsibility, warning against youth violence and moral decline, and urged the government and citizens to address public health issues such as HIV/AIDS.^[12] He also appealed for investment in infrastructure and economic development, particularly in road construction and the salt industry, and concluded that Awdal bore “a greater national responsibility” for Somaliland’s advancement.^[12]

In April 2004, a journalist with the independent daily Haatuf was arrested in Berbera after publishing an article alleging differences between President Dahir Riyale Kahin and Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin; he was later brought before a regional court and given a suspended sentence before release.^[13][14][15]

In early 2005, disputes over the electoral law and regional seat allocation created tension between the government and opposition parties in Somaliland.^[16] In February 2005, while President Kahin was abroad, Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin urged the National Electoral Commission and the three political parties to resolve the impasse themselves, stating, “It is your call, as you are the main stakeholders in the election process.”^[17] Opposition leaders criticized the statement as an abdication of executive responsibility. The stalemate was later resolved, and by May 2005 a consensual electoral law was passed.^[18] On 18 July 2005, Vice President Yasin, representing the ruling UDUB party, signed the Electoral Code of Conduct alongside opposition leaders.^[19] The parliamentary election was held on 29 September 2005 and was described as peaceful and orderly by observers.^[20]

In April 2008, Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin visited the disputed town of Las Anod in Sool region, where he received a mixed welcome from local residents. He was greeted by Somaliland-appointed regional officials, including Governor Ali Sandule. The visit was noted in regional media as reflecting Somaliland’s contested authority and the divided local sentiment in the area.^[21]

In February 2009, Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin made remarks concerning Somaliland’s relationship with Somalia, suggesting that the two entities could maintain cooperative relations similar to those of European Union member states while preserving Somaliland’s independence. His comments were widely discussed in the local press and drew reactions from opposition figures during an ongoing debate about the legitimacy of presidential term extensions. The statements were seen as reflecting the government’s position on regional diplomacy and constitutional continuity amid internal political tensions.^[22][23]

On 20 April 2010, Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Yasin returned to Somaliland after receiving medical treatment in France. He was welcomed at Berbera Airport by ministers and senior government officials.^[24]

In the 2010 Somaliland presidential election, President Dahir Riyale Kahin ran for re-election with Ahmed Yusuf Yasin as his vice-presidential running mate. The pair finished second and lost to opposition candidate Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo" of the Kulmiye Party. Following the transition of power in July 2010, Abdirahman Saylici succeeded Yasin as Vice President. ^[25][26]

On 25 April 2011, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin publicly opposed the creation of additional political parties in Somaliland during a convention of his party, stating that efforts should instead focus on reforming the existing three major parties and opening their internal leadership positions to allow greater competition.^[27]

On 29 December 2015, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin publicly commented on the appointments made by President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud “Silanyo” of the ruling UDUB party, asserting that the party leadership should have selected more qualified individuals for senior positions. ^[28]

On 13 March 2018, Ahmed Yusuf Yasin commented on the Somali federal parliament’s move to revoke the Somaliland–UAE–Ethiopia tripartite agreement over DP World’s Berbera port investment, stating that “any political engagement with Somalia is a futile exercise.”^[29]

On 9 January 2025, Somaliland held a ceremony at the Ambassador Hotel in Hargeisa to award ten-year operating licenses to the three national political parties (Waddani, Kaah and Kulmiye); Ahmed Yusuf Yasin attended as guests.^[30]

• Interpeace / Academy for Peace and Development (2006). A Vote for Peace: Somaliland’s Parliamentary Elections, September 2005 (PDF) (Report). Retrieved 2025-10-25.

Political offices
Preceded by Dahir Riyale Kahin	Vice President of Somaliland 2002 June – July 2010	Succeeded by Abdirahman Saylici