Mohamed Abdi Mohamed

Mohamed Abdi Mohamed محمد عبدي محمد
President of Azania
Incumbent
Assumed office April 3, 2011
Minister of Defence of Somalia
In office February 2009 – November 12, 2010
Prime Minister	Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke
Preceded by	Nur Hassan Hussein
Succeeded by	Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji-Faqi
Personal details
Born	Somalia
Political party	Transitional Federal Government

Mohamed Abdi Mohamed (Gandhi) (Somali: Maxamed Cabdi Maxamed, Arabic: محمد عبدي محمد‎) is a Somali anthropologist, historian and politician. He is the former Minister of Defense of Somalia, and the current President of Azania (Jubaland).

Biography

Nicknamed "Gandhi", Mohamed hails from the Ogaden sub-clan of the Darod.^[1]

He holds Ph.D. degrees in Geology and Anthropology/History^[2] in addition to an Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) from Besançon University in Besançon, France. A former Research Scientist at the IRD in Paris, Gandhi was awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma. He also served as a senior program advisor of UNDP Somalia in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR).

An active participant in the Somali peace process, Gandhi was Lead Consultant in Mapping the Somali Civil Society. He also chaired the Technical Committee at the Arta Somali Peace process that took place in Arta, Djibouti, as well as being a member of the Somali Civil Society at the Somali Peace and Reconciliation Conference that was held in Kenya.

An accomplished author, Gandhi has published eight books in addition to more than 40 scientific articles in various academic journals. He has also edited three studies.

Political career

Minister of Defense

On February 21, 2009, Gandhi was appointed Somalia's Minister of Defense by the nation's then head of government, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.^[3] He held the position until November 10, 2010.

President of Azania

On April 3, 2011, the establishment of a new autonomous region in southern Somalia was announced. Referred to as Azania (formerly Jubaland^[4]), the nascent polity is led by Gandhi, who is serving as its first President.^[5] Gandhi's first stated policy initiative is to remove the Al Shabaab group of militants from the territory.^[5]

Notes

1. ^ Kenya Reportedly Rejects Somali Request to Deploy Troops
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ Somalia's new government dominated by former opposition members - Garowe Online
4. ^ Former Somali Defense Minister Named President of Jubaland
5. ^ ^{a b} Somalia creates new state, Azania, latest of at least 10 new administrations recently added

References

• National Civic Forum Founders

External links

• National Civic Forum Founders
• Professor Gaandi: Qabiil wax macna ah ma laha waa shay la abuuri karo, baabi’ina kara (Somali)

Persondata
Name	Mohamed Abdi Mohamed
Alternative names
Short description	President of Azania (Jubaland)
Date of birth
Place of birth	Somalia
Date of death
Place of death