President of Somalia

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed born December 15 1934 in Galkayo, Puntland, Somalia is the transitional President of Somalia. He was elected by a session of the transitional Parliament held in neighbouring Kenya on October 10, 2004, and sworn in on October 14, 2004.

Abdullahi served in the Somali army and rose to the rank of colonel. When a civil war began in Somalia during the early 1990s, Abdullahi became deputy chief of the SSDF faction ruling Bari, Nugal and Mudug regions of Somalia. He was also co-chairman of the Somali Reconciliation Council which was formed in 1997. In July 1998, he was elected President of Puntland, a state created by Harti/Darod clans in the north and central parts of Somalia.

His term expired on July 1 2001, but he asked for his term to be lengthened. This was declared unconstitutional on July 3 2001. Abdullahi then fought for control of the country. His forces captured the Puntland capital, Garowe, in November 2001. His main rival, Jama Ali Jama , had control of much of the country, but Abdullahi's forces defeated him and captured his last stronghold, Bossasso , in May 2002. Jama continued in opposition until 2003, when Abdullahi gained effective control over the country.

In the October 10th 2004 election for transitional President of Somalia, Abdullahi Yusuf received 179 out of 270 votes in the 3rd round of voting in the transitional parliament. His chief opponent was former finance minister and ambassador to the United States Abdullahi Ahmed Addou who received 79 votes.