Ali Mohammed Ghedi

Ali Mohammed Ghedi

Ali Mohammed Ghedi or Mohammed Ali Ghedi (Somali: Maxamed Cali Geeddi) (born 1951) is the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia. He was relatively unknown in political circles upon his appointment as prime minister on November 2004. He is affiliated with the Abgaal subclan of Mogadishu's Hawiye clan, one of Somalia's four most powerful clan 'families'.^[1]He narrowly survived a suicide attack on his home that has left at least seven people dead on June 3 2007.^[2]

Siad Barre government

Ghedi's father was a Colonel in the Somali National Security Service (NSS) under the reign of Siad Barre. As a university student Ghedi was brilliant in his studies and he went to Italy for his further studies to the University of Pisa. Gedi even though many would say he wasn't in the political scene, others agree that he was involved somewhat in political conferences in Somalia e.g the one as Baladweyne, Hiraan. Ali Mohammad Ghedi was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in1951. He is from the Abgal subclan Harti Abgal and sub-sub clan Warsaageli. After his mother's divorce,his step mother Hawa R. from Ayr-haber-Gedir clan raised the young Ghedi. His father was a Colonel inthe Somali National Security Service (NSS). Ghedi was recruited by the NSS while he was in secondary school and worked for them throughout his college days. He also completed military service training in the 70s.Ghedi was given the task of spying on his fellow secondary and university students. During the Barre regime hundreds of students were arrested and tortured "on the basis of reports given by Ghedi".After completing secondary school at Jamal Abdul Masic Allah in Mogadishu in 1974, he went to veterinary school at the University of Mogadishu and graduated in1978. From 1979-1981 he was in Italy at the University of Pisa on a two-year scholarship. He returned to theUniversity of Mogadishu's Veterinary School and served as assistant lecturer in 1982. He was soon appointed as its Head, and held that post until the collapse of Siad Barre's regime in 1991

Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

Government in Exile

As head of the TFG, Ghedi promised to form an inclusive government, and to strive for reconciliation among Mogadishu's warlords.

After a failed assassination attempt, Ghedi fled to Nairobi, Kenya. On July 2005, he moved to Jowhar, one of two towns (the other being Baidoa) being used as a temporary joint Somali capital.

Government in Baidoa

Main article: Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (2006)

In March 2006, fighting broke out between the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) warlords and the Islamic Court Union (ICU) over the control of Mogadishu, which intensified in May.^[3] The conflict became known as the Second Battle of Mogadishu. The Prime Minister demanded the warlords, four of whom were members of the TFG government^[4], to cease fighting the ICU, but this command was universally ignored and so Ghedi dismissed them from Parliament. These included National Security Minister Mohamed Afrah Qanyare, Commerce Minister Musa Sudi Yalahow, Militia Rehabilitation Minister Issa Botan Alin and Religious Affairs Minister Omar Muhamoud Finnish.^[5]

Return to Mogadishu

Main articles: War in Somalia (2006–present) and Disarmament in Somalia

During December 2006, the ICU and affiliated Islamist militias suffered crucial defeats by the TFG and Ethiopian armies, who on December 29 entered Mogadishu relatively unopposed. Although Ghedi was jubilantly welcomed to the city, his Ethiopian allies faced angry crowds who pelted Ethiopian troops with rocks. ^[6]

On January 1 2007, he announced "The warlord era in Mogadishu is now over."^[7] Ghedi's first actions included declaring martial law for three months, calling for the disarmament of the militias, and the appointment of new judges.^[8]

Notes

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