Leaders and statesmen
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (Shariif Sheekh Axmed)
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (born 1965) was President of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government from January 2009 to August 2012. A religious scholar and teacher, he earlier chaired the Islamic Courts Union (2004 to 2007) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia. His term ended with the move from transitional to federal government in 2012.
Sharif Sheikh AhmedSheikh Sharif · Shariif Sheekh Axmed
- Lived
- 1965 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
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 (TFG) from 31 January 2009 to 20 August 2012 (Wikipedia, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed).
Early life and study
He was born on 25 July 1965 in Mahaday, in Middle Shabelle. As a child he studied Islam and Arabic and learned the Quran by heart (Wikipedia). He studied at the Sheikh Sufi Institute in Mogadishu, linked to Al-Azhar, then at universities in Libya and 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). 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). 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). He named Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, son of the former President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, as Prime Minister (Wikipedia).
His government faced a hard armed campaign by Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam in Mogadishu in 2009. By 2011, with African Union troops, government forces pushed Al-Shabaab out of the capital (Wikipedia). In August 2012 the transitional period ended and the Federal Government of Somalia was formed. He stood for President in September 2012 and lost to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (same source). See rebuilding, 2007 to 2012.
After 2012
He founded the Himilo Qaran party and later led opposition groupings, including the Somali Salvation Forum set up in 2025 (Wikipedia). 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.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed · en.wikipedia.org
- Al Jazeera, January 2009 · aljazeera.com
Sharif Sheikh AhmedSheikh Sharif · Shariif Sheekh Axmed
- Lived
- 1965 to today
- Known as one of
- Leaders and statesmen
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
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Where this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Jowhar (Johar) and Middle ShabelleMiddle Shabelle is the farming region along the Shabelle river north of Mogadishu, with Jowhar as its capital and about 1 to 1.26 million people.
Same era
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- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Presidents of Somalia, 1960 to 2026Every president and acting president of Somalia from 1960 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
- Prime Ministers of Somalia, 1956 to 2026Every Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister of Somalia from 1956 to 2026, with dates of office and links to each person's page.
- Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Axmed Gurey)Imam Ahmad Gurey (about 1506–1543): leader of Adal in the war with Ethiopia, his life, the debate on his origin and how he is remembered.
- Aden Abdulle Osman (Aadan Cabdulle Cismaan, Aden Adde)Aden Adde (1908–2007), first President of the Somali Republic: his life, the Somali Youth League, 1960 and the peaceful handover of 1967.
- Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke)Abdirashid Ali Shermarke (1919–1969): first Prime Minister and second President of the Somali Republic, his life and his death in 1969.
- Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal)Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal (1928–2002): Prime Minister in 1960 and 1967–69, President of Somaliland 1993–2002. His life and public roles.