Former Somali president dies in Nairobi

Somalia’s former president Ali Mahdi Mohamed died in Kenya’s capital Nairobi aged 83.

According to the family, the former president fell ill in Mogadishu last week and was flown out to Kenya for further treatment.

Mr Mahdi was appointed president of Somalia by loyalists of the United Somali Congress (USC), the rebel group that deposed the late dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in January 1991.

But his rule was immediately challenged by the late rebel leader Mohamed Farah Aideed. The power struggle between Gen Aideed and President Mahdi led to months of bloodshed in Mogadishu. Decades later, the country is still struggling to rise from the aftermath of the conflict.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Farmaajo and a host of several opposition politicians condoled with his family, describing Mr Mahdi as a man who loved his country. Farmaajo announced a three-day national mourning period, and announced that there will be a special committee to conduct his burial. He said the former leader will have a state funeral.

“He played his part in saving our country during difficult times,” Former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “May God give patience and faith to the Somali people and the family he left behind.”

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, another ex-President, also offered his condolences, praying for strength for his family and Somalis in general.

Mr Mahdi was born at Addow-Guul village in Middle Shabelle region, about 100 km north of Mogadishu, in 1938.

He began school in Mogadishu and went for further studies in Egypt in 1959. Mr Mahdi later became a civil servant in the Ministry of Health.

In 1968, he left the government service and joined politics. He was elected to the 123-member civilian National Assembly, having won a seat in the last multiparty election Somalia had in March 1969.