Ali Mohamed Abdirahman (Ali Hayan): A legacy of leadership and dedication in education and public service in Somalia

Ali Mohamed Abdirahman (Ali Hayan) (Somali: Cali Maxamed Cabdiraxmaan – Cali Hayaan; 1950 – 10 July 2013) was a Somali politician and education administrator.

Biography

Ali Hayan was born in 1950 in Gaalkacyo, the capital of the Mudug region of Somalia. A polyglot, he was fluent in Somali, Arabic, and English.

Education

Ali Hayan completed his primary education in the mid-1960s in Gaalkacyo. He then attended Jamal Abdinasir Secondary School in Mogadishu from 1966 to 1969.

He pursued higher education at Lafoole University’s Faculty of Education, earning a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Arabic and a minor in Geography. Ali Hayan further obtained Master’s degrees in Education from institutions in Egypt and Kuwait in the early 1980s.

His postgraduate education in Egypt. [Photo Credit: His Family]

Career

Ali Hayan began his career as a teacher from 1969 to the early 1970s, teaching in schools such as Eylo School in Jawhar. He later served as a school manager in several regions, including Ceelbuur in the Galgaduud region.

When he was the Chairman of the General Examinations Board at the Ministry of Education. [Photo Credit: His Family]

After graduating from Lafoole University, Ali Hayan joined the Ministry of Education, where he worked in the Department of Secondary Schools.

In 1984, he was appointed as the Director of the General Examinations Board of the Ministry of Education of Somalia, a position he held until 1991. In this role, he earned nationwide recognition for his contributions to the education sector.

His tenure at the General Examinations Office. [Photo Credit: His Family]

Following the outbreak of the civil war, Ali Hayan relocated to Garoowe, the capital of the Nugaal region, in 1993. There, he played a pivotal role in rebuilding and revitalizing the region’s education system.

From 1994 to 1996, Ali Hayan served as the Governor of the Nugaal region. He was also actively involved in the establishment of Puntland State in 1998, where his expertise significantly contributed to the development of a state-wide education system.

The first curriculum preparation by UNESCO in 1999 in Nairobi; Ali is the person seated on the far right. [Photo Credit: His Family]

In collaboration with UNESCO in 1999 and 2005, Ali Hayan played a key role in producing a nationwide education curriculum, solidifying his legacy as a champion of Somali education reform.