Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo" (, ) (born 1938) is a Somaliland politician who was President of Somaliland from 2010–2017. He is a long-time member of the government, having served as Minister of Commerce of the Somali Republic, and among other Cabinet positions. During the 1980s, he also served as the Chairman of the Somali National Movement. Standing as an opposition candidate, he was elected as President of Somaliland in Somaliland's 2010 presidential election. Background Personal life Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo was born in 1938 in the Mideastern town of Burco, situated in what was then the former British Somaliland protectorate. Nicknamed "Silanyo" (meaning lizard in Somali), he hails from the Adan Madobe sub-division of the Habar Jeclo clan of Isaaq clan-family. Ahmed M. Mohamoud Silanyo is the third child of six. His father was a merchant marine; so, the family lived a half-nomadic, half-settled lifestyle. He was the only child in the family to attend a formal education, fostered by an uncle who was a strong influence on his early life. His brothers followed their father's footsteps as merchant marines. He is Muslim. He met his wife, Amina-Weris Sh. Mohamed, in the late 1960s. Like him, she completed her education as a registered nurse and midwife in England. She is one of the pioneers of Somali educated women. They married in Mogadishu in 1968. She has been a strong partner, by his side throughout the long and turbulent times of his political career. They have five children and seven grandchildren. Education Between 1946 and 1957, Mohamoud studied at schools in Sheekh and Amud, where he completed his secondary levels. Upon graduation, he moved to England to pursue higher studies. From 1958 to 1960, Mohamoud enrolled in London University and obtained an advanced General Certificate of Education (GCE). He then studied at University of Manchester, where he earned both a Bachelor's Degree (1960–1963) and a Master's Degree (1963–1965) in Economics. Political career General In a professional capacity, between 1965 and 1969, Mohamoud served as an official at the Ministry of Planning and Coordination in Mogadishu during Somalia's early civilian administration. He was also the national Minister of Planning and Coordination (1969–1973), Minister of Commerce (1973–1978 and 1980–1982), and the Chairman of the National Economic Board (1978–1980) in the succeeding socialist government. Although a member of Siad Barre's cabinet for many years, he was believed to not be involved in any acts