Ali Mohammed Ghedi

Ali Mohammed Gedi (, ) (born 2 October 1952), popularly known as Ali Gedi, is a Somali politician who served as Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) from 2004 to 2007.

A former academic and veterinary doctor based in Addis Ababa, Gedi was a little-known figure prior to his appointment in November 2004, the result of intensive lobbying by the Ethiopian government. Widely viewed as corrupt and an impediment to reconciliation, he resigned in October 2007 was replaced by Nur Hassan Hussein as PM.

He went on to the University of Pisa, graduating in 1978 and was subsequently employed by the Somali National University as an assistant lecturer. From 1980 to 1983, he studied at the University of Pisa for postgraduate studies and obtained a Doctorate Degree in Veterinary Pathology and Surgery. He then returned to teaching in 1983 as a lecturer and headed the department until 1990.

Political career

During the outbreak of the Somali Civil War, Gedi worked for warlord Ali Mahdi of the United Somali Congress. He was Mahdi's assistant defense secretary during the fierce fighting in Mogadishu of the early 1990s. According to I.M. Lewis, Yusuf's election as president and his appointment of Gedi, who had ties to Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi, were heavily influenced by Ethiopia. These connections played a key role in the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in 2006. The New York Times reported that, "Mr. Gedi’s rise to power was essentially an Ethiopian creation." Ethiopian officials heavily lobbied for his ascension to prime minister.

In March 2005, a debate on deploying foreign troops, including Ethiopian forces, to Somalia led to violence after the resolution was rejected by a vote of 156 to 55. A brawl was initiated by some opposing the result, injuring several MPs, and the vote was declared invalid thereafter. By insisting on the deployment of foreign troops from countries bordering Somalia, Ali Gedi and Yusuf disregarded the views of their cabinet, a clear majority of transitional parliament, and much of the public.

During June 2005, the TFG moved into Somalia for the first time and promised to establish its authority across the country. Instead it quickly devolved into infighting, and serious internal divisions arose. A seat of power could not be agreed on. 100 members of the 275-strong parliament - led by Speaker Sharif Hassan Aden - chose to move to Mogadishu, stating they would try to restore stability to the capital. On the other hand President Abdullahi Yusuf, Prime Minister Ali Gedi and their supporters set up base in Jowhar, 90 km north of Mogadishu, citing insecurity in the capital.

Ethiopian invasion and insurgency 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. The prime minister demanded the warlords, four of whom were members of the TFG government, 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. On 13 August 2006, Ghedi reshuffled his cabinet.

Gedi had publicly pushed claims that 8,000 foreign fighters were fighting for the ICU prior to the Ethiopian invasion. During December 2006, Ethiopian and TFG troops entered Mogadishu. On January 1, 2007, he announced "The warlord era in Mogadishu is now over." Ghedi's first actions included declaring martial law for three months, calling for the disarmament of the militias, and the appointment of new judges. The directives that were issued, which included a ban on public meetings, attempts to organize political campaigns and major media outlets, was enforced by Ethiopian troops. Warlord militia checkpoints began reappearing on Mogadishu roads and insecurity started once again returning to the city. Gedi was the target of an assassination of attempt.

Corruption and resignation Gedi was widely viewed as corrupt and was replaced by Nur Hassan Hussein as PM during late 2007.

In exchange for stepping down, Gedi was granted asylum in the United States and permitted to retain some of the remaining Saudi funds. He subsequently relocated to Los Angeles, where U.S. officials were said to have arranged an academic position for him at the University of California. He remained a member of parliament. In early 2008, Gedi announced that he would run for presidency in 2009.