SOMALIA: Some key actors in the transitional process

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

NAIROBI, 6 May 2005 (IRIN) -

Abudllahi Yusuf Ahmed: Interim president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Former president of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia. He is a member of the Majeerteen subclan of the Darod clan.

Ali Muhammad Gedi: Prime minister of the TFG. Former university veterinary lecturer. He is a member of the Abgal subclan of the Hawiye clan and hails from the Mogadishu area.

Sharif Hassan Shaykh Aden: Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP). He is a prominent businessman from the Asharaf subclan of the Rahanweyn clan.

Col Hassan Muhammad Nur "Shatigadud": Founding chairman of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA). A former military intelligence officer, he is currently the minister of agriculture in the TFG. He hails from the southwestern town of Baidoa. He is a member of the Harin subclan of the Rahanweyn clan.

Shaykh Aden Muhammad "Aden Mdaobe": A former member of the RRA's top leadership. He is currently the minister of justice in the TFG. Madobe is a former Koranic school teacher and a member of the Hadamo subclan of the Rahaweyn clan.

Abdiqassim Salad Hassan: Former president of the transitional national government. He handed over to Abdullahi Yusuf and went back to Mogadishu. He is from the Habar Gedir subclan of the Hawiye clan.

Ali Mahdi Muhammad: Former hotelier, he became president after Siyad Barre left Mogadishu. He now lives in Mogadishu.

Hussein Muhammad Aydid: Son of the late Gen Aydid and a former US marine. He replaced his father as clan leader in 1996. He is a former faction leader based in Mogadishu and is now deputy prime minister and minister of interior in the TFG. He is a member of the Habar Gedir subclan of the Hawiye clan.

Muse Sudi Yalahow: A powerful Mogadishu-based faction leader. He is the current minister of commerce in the TFG. He is a member of the Abgal subclan of the Hawiye clan.

Muhammad Omar Habeb "Muhammad Dheere": Jowhar-based faction leader and the "governor" of the Middle Shabelle region, south-central Somalia. He was elected a member of the TFP but stepped down in favor of Gedi, which allowed Gedi to be named prime minister. He is from the Abgal subclan of the Hawiye.

Osman Hassan Ali "Atto": A Mogadishu-based faction leader and former right-hand man of the late Gen Aydid until 1995. He is the current minister of public works in the TFG. He is from the Habar Gedir subclan of the Hawiye clan.

Muhammad Qanyare Afrah: Another Mogadishu-based faction leader. He is currently the minister for national security in the TFG. He is from the Murusade subclan of the Hawiye clan.

Muhammad Ibrahim "Habasade": One of the top three leaders of the RRA and the current "strongman" of Baidoa. He is a member of the TFP. He is from the Leysan subclan of the Rahanweyn clan.

Col Barre Aden "Hiirale": Leader of the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA), which controls the southern port city of Kismayo and the surrounding Juba valley area. He is a member of the TFP and was named into the cabinet but has so far declined to be sworn-in as a minister. He is from the Marehan subclan of the Darod clan.

Yusuf Mire "Serar": Deputy leader of the JVA. Member of the TFP. He is from the Habar Gedir subclan of the Hawiye clan.

Omar Muhammad Mahamud: Faction leader based in Mogadishu. Member of the TFP and the current minister of religious affairs. He is from the Abgal subclan of the Hawiye clan.

Yusuf Muhammad Siyad, "Indhacade": Faction leader based in the southern port town of Merka. Controls the Lower Shabelle region.

Gen Muhammad Said Hirsi "Morgan": Siyad Barre's son-in-law and former Defence minister who currently holds no position in the TFG. He controlled Kismayo until his forces were defeated by forces led by Hiirale and Serar in 1999. He is a member of the Majeerteen subclan of the Darod clan.

Gen Ade Muse Hirsi: President of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland. Lived in exile in Canada but returned to Somalia in 2001 to lead opposition forces against Abdullahi Yusuf, then leader of Puntland, until 2003 when they signed a peace deal. He is from the Majeerteen subclan of the Darod clan.

Dahir Riyale Kahin: President of the self-declared republic of Somaliland. The former colonel in the National Security Service was appointed vice president by the late Somaliland president Muhammad Ibrahim Egal and later became president after Egal died in 2002. He is from the Gadobirsay subclan of the Dir clan.


SOURCES:

1. www.somalinet.com
2. www.hirran.com
3. www.irinnews.org
4. http://awdalnews.com/
5. International Crisis Group (www.icg.org)
6. IRIN interviews with TFG members

[ENDS]