Hamza Abdi Barre | |
|---|---|
| Xamse Cabdi Barre حمزة عبد بري | |
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 21st Prime Minister of Somalia | |
| Assumed office 26 June 2022 | |
| President | Hassan Sheikh Mohamud |
| Deputy | Salah Jama |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Hussein Roble |
| Member of theHouse of the People | |
| Assumed office 28 December 2021 | |
| Constituency | Afmadow,Afmadow District,Lower Juba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1972 or 1973 (age 52–53)[1] |
| Political party | Union for Peace and Development Party (UPD) |
| Children | 8 |
| Residence(s) | Mogadishu, Somalia |
| Education | Bachelor's Degree,Master's Degree |
Hamza Abdi Barre (Somali:Xamse Cabdi Barre,Arabic:حمزة عبد بري; born 1972 or 1973) is a Somali politician who has served as theprime minister of Somalia since 2022. He was nominated on 15 June 2022, by PresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamud,[3] and he was endorsed by parliament on 25 June 2022 (229 in favour, 7 opposed, 1 abstention).[4] Hamza is also a parliamentarian elected to the House of the People of theFederal Parliament of Somalia on 28 December 2021, representing theAfmadow constituency ofMiddle Juba.[5]
Hamza was born inKismayo,Lower Juba,[6] to theOgaden branch of theDarod clan.[7]
Hamza completed his primary education in the country, and received his bachelor's degree from theUniversity of Science and Technology inYemen in 2001.[6] From 2003 to 2004, Hamza was the Executive Director of the Formal Private Education Network in Somalia (FPENS), a school in Mogadishu.[6] In August 2005,[8] Hamza became a co-founder ofKismayo University.[6] In 2009, Hamza received his Master's degree[2] from theInternational Islamic University inMalaysia.[6] After obtaining his Master's degree and before entering into his political career, Hamza spent many years as an educator in Kismayo and Mogadishu, including becoming a senior lecturer atMogadishu University.[1]
Barre has long been a supporter of the Union for Peace and Development Party, holding various positions in the offices of the federal government. From 2014 to 2015, Barre was the administrative advisor to the governor ofBanaadir region and later to themayor of Mogadishu,Hassan Mohamed Hussein. Barre also served as a senior adviser to the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and Federalism.[1][2] His largest political positions before becoming prime minister were as the secretary-general of the Peace and Development Party under President Mohamud from 2011 to 2017,[1] and as chairman of the Jubbaland Electoral Commission from 2019 to 2020 under PresidentMohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.[2] Since 26 June 2022, Barre has served as the Prime Minister of Somalia beside President Mohamud,[2] elected exactly one month prior.[9]
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who comes from a Muslim background, has sparked several controversies through his comments onPalestine,Israel, andUkraine.
On 2 November 2023, During a public address, Barre expressed strong support forHamas, describing the group as a "liberating group" rather than a terrorist organization.[a] He condemnedWestern silence on theGaza crisis and pledged Somalia’sfederal government backing for Hamas inGaza.[10]
His comments took a more inflammatory turn when he usedantisemitism words towardJewish people, referring to them as "children ofpigs anddogs."[11] The statement left some attendees stunned while others shocked. Barre further called for the elimination ofIsraelis, comparing Jews to the extremist groupAl-Shabaab, which has carried out numerous attacks inSomalia.[12]
We will not accept anything less than aPalestinian state with its capital inJerusalem
Barre also weighed in on the Ukraine war, suggesting thatRussia’s invasion was justified and dismissing Western claims that it was an assault on democracy.[13][11]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Somalia 2022–present | Incumbent |
| Trust Territory of Somaliland (1956–1960) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Somali Republic (1960–1969) | ||
| Somali Democratic Republic (1969–1991) |
| |
| Interim Government of Somalia (1991–1997) | ||
| Transitional National Government of Somalia (2000–2004) | ||
| Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (2004–2012) | ||
| Federal Republic of Somalia (since 2012) | ||
| ||
