# Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (Shariif Sheekh Axmed)

> Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, born 1965: Islamic Courts Union chairman, President of the Transitional Federal Government 2009–2012, later opposition figure.

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

## Who is he?

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is a Somali religious scholar and politician. He was the seventh President of Somalia, leading the [Transitional Federal Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) (TFG) from 31 January 2009 to 20 August 2012 ([Wikipedia, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif_Sheikh_Ahmed)).

## Early life and study

He was born on 25 July 1965 in Mahaday, in Middle [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/). As a child he studied Islam and Arabic and learned the Quran by heart ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif_Sheikh_Ahmed)). He studied at the [Sheikh Sufi](/en/people/sheikh-sufi/) Institute in Mogadishu, linked to Al-Azhar, then at universities in Libya and [Sudan](/en/diaspora/sudan/), where he earned a degree in law and Islamic law (same source).

## Teacher and community organiser

He came home to Mogadishu in 2000. He started a cultural body, the Al-Shuruuq agency, and a youth federation that brought young people together across the divided city ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif_Sheikh_Ahmed)). He also taught.

## The Islamic Courts Union

Local Islamic courts in Mogadishu offered order where there was no state. In 2004 he became chairman of their union, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif_Sheikh_Ahmed)). By mid-2006 the ICU held Mogadishu and much of the south. Ethiopian troops entered Somalia in December 2006 and the ICU's leadership dispersed (same source). He then led the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), which entered UN-backed talks in Djibouti in 2008 (same source).

## President, 2009 to 2012

After the Djibouti talks, the enlarged parliament met in Djibouti and elected him President on 31 January 2009 ([Al Jazeera, January 2009](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2009/01/200913191343772174.html)). He named [Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke](/en/people/omar-abdirashid-sharmarke/), son of the former President [Abdirashid Ali Shermarke](/en/people/abdirashid-ali-shermarke/), as Prime Minister ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif_Sheikh_Ahmed)).

His government faced a hard armed campaign by [Al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/) and [Hizbul Islam](/en/institutions/hizbul-islam/) in Mogadishu in 2009. By 2011, with African Union troops, government forces pushed Al-Shabaab out of the capital ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif_Sheikh_Ahmed)). In August 2012 the transitional period ended and the [Federal Government of Somalia](/en/institutions/federal-government-of-somalia/) was formed. He stood for President in September 2012 and lost to [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) (same source). See [rebuilding, 2007 to 2012](/en/history/rebuilding-2007-2012/).

## After 2012

He founded the Himilo Qaran party and later led opposition groupings, including the Somali Salvation Forum set up in 2025 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharif_Sheikh_Ahmed)). He stood again for President in 2017 and 2022.

## In short

President of the Transitional Federal Government from 2009 to 2012, who handed over to the first federal government in 2012.

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