# Jama Ali Jama (Jaamac Cali Jaamac)

> Jama Ali Jama (c. 1939 to 2025): colonel and political prisoner, elected President of Puntland 2001 to 2002.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/jama-ali-jama/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who was he?

Jama Ali Jama was a Somali army officer and politician ([Wikipedia, Jama Ali Jama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Ali_Jama)). He was elected President of [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/) in November 2001 and held the post until May 2002 (same source). Wikipedia's list of Puntland presidents notes that Somali media often do not count him in the list ([Wikipedia, President of Puntland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Puntland)). This page records events without taking sides.

## Early life and army

He was born around 1939 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Ali_Jama)). His family is Majeerteen (Darod), of the Osman Mahamoud branch (same source). He studied in Moscow and joined the [Somali National Army](/en/institutions/somali-national-army/), where he rose to colonel (same source). In the mid-1970s the Soviet Union promoted him as a leading voice of socialism in the Horn of Africa (same source).

## Prison

The government of [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) accused him of taking part in a coup attempt ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Ali_Jama)). He was held in prison for 11 years (same source). Amnesty International recognised him as a prisoner of conscience (same source). See [the Siad Barre era](/en/history/siad-barre-era-1969-1991/).

## The Puntland dispute

In November 2001 he was elected President of Puntland ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Ali_Jama)). The outgoing president, [Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed](/en/people/abdullahi-yusuf-ahmed/), wanted his own term extended and rejected the result (same source). This became known as the Puntland crisis of 2001 and 2002 (same source). Abdullahi Yusuf said Jama backed the group Al-Itihaad Al-Islamiya (same source). In May 2002 Ethiopian troops helped Abdullahi Yusuf's forces take control, and Jama left office (same source). Fighting between forces loyal to the two men broke out again in January 2003 (same source). See [the years 2000 to 2012](/en/history/islamist-movements-and-transitional-governments-2000-2012/).

## Later life and death

He later became a member of the [Transitional Federal Parliament](/en/history/transitional-federal-parliament-2004-2012/) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Ali_Jama)). He died in [London](/en/diaspora/london/) on 13 December 2025 (same source). President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) led the national mourning ([Eastleigh Voice, December 2025](https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/colonel%20jama%20ali%20jama/254723/somali-president-leads-nation-in-mourning-former-puntland-leader-jama-ali-jama)). Former president [Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo](/en/people/mohamed-abdullahi-farmaajo/) and Puntland's president [Said Abdullahi Deni](/en/people/said-abdullahi-deni/) also sent condolences ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Ali_Jama)).

## In short

An army colonel and former political prisoner who was elected President of Puntland in 2001, left office in 2002 after a dispute with Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, and later sat in the federal parliament.

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