Haji Muse Boqor

Haji Muse Boqor Osman (Somali: Xaaji Muuse Boqor; Arabic: حاجي موسى بوقور; 1911–1991) was a politician, businessman, and Somalia's president-in-waiting following the assassination of President Sharmarke. He was the son of Boqor Osman and served as the first Minister of Interior Affairs during the Italian Trusteeship of Somalia.^[1] He was also a member of Somalia's first Parliament.^[2] Boqor was assassinated 1991 in Mogadishu from the prior of the Somali Civil War.

Haji Muse Boqor
1st Somali Minister of Interior affairs
In office 1956–1959
Personal details
Born	Muuse Boqor Cismaan 1911 Bargal, Majeerteeniya, Italian Somalia
Died	5 January 1991(1991-01-05) (aged 79) Mogadishu, Somalia
Cause of death	mortar wound
Political party	Somali Youth League (SYL)
Other political affiliations	Maanifeesto
Occupation	Politician entrepreneur businessman

Biography

Haji Muse Boqor was born in Bargal, a city of Majeerteeniya territory (now Bari region), when Somalia was an Italian colony. He memorized the Quran at a young age. In 1929, he moved to Mogadishu to continue his education.^[2]

Boqor joined the Somali Youth League, a group fighting for Somalia's independence. During the 10 years of Italian trusteeship, he served in the cabinet of Premiership of Abdullahi Isse. He became Somalia's first Minister of Interior Affairs and held this position until the country gained independence in 1960.^[3][4]

Assassination and coup d'état

Main articles: Assassination of Abdirashid Sharmake and 1969 Somali coup d'état

On 15 October 1969, Somali President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke was assassinated in Las Anod, Sool region of Somalia.^[1] The attack happened around noon near the municipal headquarters. A 22-year-old man named Said Yusuf Ismail, also known as Said Orfano, shot the president seven times.^[1] President Sharmarke fell to the ground and died at the scene.^[5] After the president's death, Haji Muse Boqor was in contention to become the next president. However, just six days later, on October 21, 1969, a military coup took place.^[6] The Somali Army took control of the government without facing resistance. This bloodless takeover was led by Major General Mohamed Siad Barre, the army's commander at the time.^[7] The coup marked the beginning of Siad Barre's rule over Somalia.^[8]

Detention and death

After the military coup, many politicians, scholars, and religious leaders, including Boqor were arrested. Siad Barre regime saw them as potential rivals and a threat to his rule.^[2][9]

While in prison, He was reportedly poisoned at two detention centers, Labaatan Jiroow and Laanta Buur. After his release, he became one of the 114 members of the "Manifesto Group". This group signed a peace agreement aimed at ending the fighting between Siad Barre's government and the United Somali Congress (USC) militias in Mogadishu.  

On January 5, 1991, after the Asr (afternoon) prayer, Boqor was assassinated^[2] along with Sheikh Mohamed Faruur, Hashi Wehliye Moalim, and Mohamed Said Gentleman. They died as a result of mortar shelling while staying at the home of Dr. Muhiyadiin in the Kaaraan neighborhood of Mogadishu.^[2]