# Omar Mohamud Mohamed "Finnish" (Cumar Maxamuud Maxamed "Filish")

> Omar Finnish: Mayor of Mogadishu 2019 to 2022, earlier a USC/SSA faction leader and transitional MP.

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

## Who is he?

Omar Mohamud Mohamed is a Somali politician known as Omar Finnish, also spelled Filish ([Wikipedia, Omar Finnish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Finnish)). He was Mayor of [Mogadishu](/en/regions/mogadishu/) and Governor of [Banadir](/en/states/banadir/) from August 2019 to September 2022 (same source). Wikipedia describes him as a former warlord (same source).

## Faction years

He led a breakaway wing of the United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance (USC/SSA) ([IRIN weekly round-up, 28 December 2001](http://iys.cidi.org/humanitarian/irin/hafrica/01b/ixl25.html)). The USC/SSA had first backed [Ali Mahdi Mohamed](/en/people/ali-mahdi-muhammad/) in the civil war ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Finnish)). He was once the deputy of [Musa Sudi Yalahow](/en/people/musa-sudi-yalahow/); the two later split and fought over parts of Mogadishu (IRIN, same source). See [United Somali Congress](/en/institutions/united-somali-congress/).

## Transitional parliament and 2006

He was one of the 275 members of the [Transitional Federal Parliament](/en/history/transitional-federal-parliament-2004-2012/) on the list of 29 August 2004, as "Hon. Omar Mohamud Mohamed (Filish)" ([Somali Civil Society list of MPs](http://somali-civilsociety.org/downloads/Names%20of%20the%20selected%20Members%20of%20Parliament.pdf)). In early 2006 he joined the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism ([ARPCT](/en/history/battle-of-mogadishu-2006/)), which fought the Islamic Courts Union ([BBC Somali, July 2006](https://www.bbc.com/somali/news/story/2006/07/printable/060703_somalia)). After the Courts' forces won in Mogadishu, he handed over his weapons after negotiations (same source). On 12 January 2007 he was at [Villa Somalia](/en/institutions/president-and-council-of-ministers/) when faction leaders and the transitional government agreed to disarm militias ([Garowe Online, 12 January 2007](http://www.garoweonline.com/stories/publish/article_7042.shtml)).

## Mayor of Mogadishu

President [Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed](/en/people/mohamed-abdullahi-farmaajo/) "Farmaajo" named him mayor and governor on 22 August 2019 ([Reuters, 22 August 2019](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-security-idUSKCN1VC24H)). He followed Abdirahman Omar Osman "Yarisow", who died after an attack on his office ([Jowhar.com](https://www.jowhar.com/news-english/somali-president-appoints-omar-filish-as-the-new-governor-of-banadir-and-the-mayor-of-mogadishu.html5/)).

## Handover, 2022

On 7 September 2022 President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) named Yusuf Hussein Jimaale "Madale" in his place ([Hiiraan Online](http://www.hiiraan.com/news/2022/sept/wararka_maanta7-182308.htm), [Shabelle Media, 7 September 2022](https://shabellemedia.com/mogadishu-gets-a-mayor-not-new-to-its-people/)). He handed over on the night of 13 September 2022 at the Hamar local government house ([Keydmedia, 14 September 2022](https://www.keydmedia.net/news/madale-takes-office-as-new-mayor-of-mogadishu)). Keydmedia reported he thanked the city's people at the ceremony (same source).

## In short

USC/SSA faction leader and transitional MP, then Mayor of Mogadishu from 2019 to 2022. See [Mayors of Mogadishu](/en/institutions/mayors-of-mogadishu/).

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