By Mohamed Arab
In August 2018, Mustafe Omer was selected acting president of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State. What began as an interim assignment has since grown into the longest continuous presidency in the region’s history. More than seven years on, Mustafe has outlasted all ten presidents who preceded him, emerging as a symbol of stability, continuity, and development-driven leadership.
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The Somali Regional State was formally established in 1993. For much of its early history, leadership changed hands frequently, with terms often measured in months rather than years. Abdullahi Lugbuur, who governed from 2005 to 2008, once held the record for the region’s longest presidency at just over three years. That record now belongs decisively to Mustafe Omer, the region’s 11th president, who has governed with a clear vision and a steady hand since 2018.
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Among the most consequential achievements of Mustafe’s presidency is the October 2018 peace agreement with the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). This historic accord ended decades of armed struggle and opened the door for thousands of former fighters to reintegrate into peaceful political life. It gave communities across the region the space to focus on rebuilding, reconciliation, and development rather than conflict.
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Under Mustafe’s administration, the Somali Region has recorded substantial progress across infrastructure and public services:
- Water access: More than 360 underground water wells have been developed, bringing clean water to communities that once faced chronic shortages.
- Healthcare: Twenty-one new hospitals have been built, raising the regional total to more than thirty.
- Education: Over 700 new schools have been constructed, including 12 boarding schools, expanding access to education for thousands of children; particularly from pastoralist families.
- Agriculture: Cultivated land has grown from 350,000 hectares to 1.6 million hectares, with a target of two million, supporting food security, job creation, and rural livelihoods.
- Investment: Private-sector investment in the region has surpassed 70 billion Birr, reflecting growing confidence in its economic trajectory.
This progress has not been Mustafe’s alone. The Federal leadership led prime minister by Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, the wider administration of the Somali Region; cabinet officials, zonal administrators, and local leaders working alongside him, have played a major role in translating vision into results on the ground. Together, this leadership has championed regional unity, inclusive dialogue, and the participation of youth and women in politics and development, building an administration that emphasizes accountability, public service delivery, and responsiveness to citizens.
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In a region once defined by rapid leadership turnover, Mustafe Omer has delivered something rare: continuity. His extended tenure has enabled long-term planning, sustained investment, and consistent policy; giving the region the predictability and stability that attract both local and foreign investment.
Mustafe’s presidency is now the longest in the history of the Somali Regional State. More importantly, it has been defined by peacebuilding, infrastructure expansion, educational progress, and economic growth, cementing his place as not only the region’s longest-serving leader but one of its most consequential.
As he continues to lead, President Mustafe Omer’s legacy is being written in the wells that bring water to dry lands, the hospitals that save lives, the schools that educate a new generation, and the peace that allows communities to thrive. His tenure stands as a testament to what stable, development-focused leadership can achieve; and to the future he envisions for the Somali Region.
