Abdullahi Issa

Cabdullaahi Ciise Maxamuud was born in 1922 in Afgooye, Lower Shabelle. Self-taught and fluent in Arabic, Italian, and English, he joined the Somali Youth League (SYL) at its inception in 1943, becoming its charismatic Secretary-General in 1948.

Between 1948 and 1954, Issa travelled repeatedly to Lake Success and Paris to represent the Somali people before the United Nations General Assembly, successfully securing a binding UN resolution establishing a ten-year trusteeship culminating in full sovereignty. In 1956, following national elections, he became the first Prime Minister of the Trust Territory, drafting the framework of the civil service and national education before serving as Foreign Minister upon independence.