Ali Mahdi Mohamed

Ali Mahdi Mohamed (Somali: Cali Mahdi Maxamed; 1 January 1939 - 10 March 2021), was a Somali entrepreneur and politician. He was the President of Somalia from the end of January 1991 to the end of August 1993. He was re-appointed president under the Cairo Agreement in December 1997 and remained until he was succeeded by Abdiqasim Salad in 2000. 

Early Life and Background

Ali Mahdi Mohamed was born in the town of Adale in Middle Shabelle, Somalia. He was of the Abgaal clan and one of the minor sub-clans of the Hawiye. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and entrepreneur running a chain of businesses in Mogadishu.

Political Career

 Ali Mahdi first got into politics towards the late 1980s, in opposition to the dictatorial rule of Siad Barre. He was one of the members of the United Somali Congress (USC), one of the groups that struggled to take down Barre's regime.

He was declared an interim president after the overthrow of Siad Barre in January 1991 by some factions within the United Somali Congress. His election was contested, and he entered into a power struggle with General Mohamed Farah Aidid, the other notable USC leader. This rivalry was responsible for the exacerbation of the Somali Civil War.

Presidency 1991-1997

This presidency was characterized by an era of bloody violence and the absence of a viable government. While he was recognized by some factions within Somalia, his authority extended only over parts of Mogadishu and the periphery.

During his presidency in the early 1990s, humanitarian devastation struck the country in the form of famine. International relief agencies and the UN were called in to intervene.

The UN entered the fray with its missions, including UNOSOM I and UNOSOM II, for the restoration of peace and humanitarian aid. Conflict among rival warlords frustrated peace initiatives.

Later Years

Ali Mahdi stepped down in 1997. He remained, nonetheless, an elder statesman of good influence despite having no formal political office. He voiced peace and reconciliation and thus should be invited to any peace conference in this regard.

Death

Ali Mahdi Mohamed died in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 10, 2021, due to complications arising from COVID-19. He was remembered as one of the controversial but major figures in Somali history, typifying the difficulties of leadership in an immensely stormy era of national crisis. 

Legacy

 Ali Mahdi's leadership magnified the rather complex post-Barre Somali political scene. Although he slides down to ridicule for being incapable of uniting the country, he is also celebrated for his drive to bring the international mind to the hardships hit during a very dark hour for Somalia.