Xhafer bej Ypi

Prime Minister of Albania

January 12, 1880 Starje, Albania

December 17, 1940 (aged 60) Starje, Albania

January 1922 – December 26, 1922

Albanian politician (1880-1940) Xhafer bej Ypi (Albanian pronunciation:  January 12, 1880, Starje - December 17, 1940) was an Albanian politician. Ypi's parents were Asllan (a landowner) and Fetie Zavalani. He was educated at a university in Istanbul. In 1920-1921 he was Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Justice. He also held the position of Minister of Public Instruction. As the leader of the Popular Party, in late December 1921 he formed a government where Fan S. Noli was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ahmed Zogu was the Minister of Internal Affairs. Until December 4, 1922, Ypi was Prime Minister, in 1922 after Noli's resignation he was also acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. From December 2, 1922, to January 31, 1925, Ypi was a member of the High Council (the collegial Head of State, formally for William of Wied). In June 1924 he left Albania because of Noli's revolt, but he kept holding the post formally. During Zog's Kingdom, Ypi was Chief Inspector of the Royal Court. After King Zog had fled after Italian occupation, from April 9 to April 12 Ypi was Chairman and Plenipotentiary for Justice of the Provisional Administration Committee, and as such acting head of state. From April 12, he was the Minister of Justice in Shefqet Verlaci's government. He was killed near his hometown by an aerial bomb during the Greco-Italian War. See also History of Albania Sources O.S. Pearson, Albania and King Zog, I.B. Tauris. 2005 (ISBN 1-84511-013-7).