Mohamud Becomes Somalia’s First Head of State to Graduate with PhD

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) on Friday, December 2, 2022, joined the President of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as he graduated with a PhD from the United Nations University For Peace.

This was after successfully defending his dissertation focusing on Peace, Governance, and Development in October this year.

“Congratulations, President Dr Hassan S Mohamud and all the graduates,” said the mission in a congratulatory message.

President Mohamud becomes the country’s first head of state with a doctorate.

His doctoral thesis is titled “Examining the Challenges of Clan Politics in Statebuilding: A Case Study of Somalia.”

According to Radio Dalsan, Mohamud attended the graduation ceremony of the second batch of the United Nations Peace University where he was conferred a PhD in Peace, Good Governance, and Development.

The University for Peace was established through UN General Assembly resolution 35/55 of December 5, 1980, globally to lessen the obstacles to peace as enshrined by the United Nations Charter.

In 2018, when UPEACE began offering its program in Mogadishu, Mohamud was one of the first students to enrol in the university’s doctoral program.

He signed the instrument of accession during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly which saw Somalia become the 42nd nation to sign the UPEACE charter.

Before entering politics, he taught at SIMAD University in Mogadishu, Somalia, and was one of its founding members.