Sharif Ahmed

As chairman of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), Sharif Ahmed led the coalition that captured Mogadishu from US-backed warlords. The ICU established sharia law and brought temporary stability to the capital, but was later ousted by Ethiopian forces.

Sharif Ahmed was elected President of Somalia by the parliament in Djibouti as part of a UN-backed peace process. A former leader of the Islamic Courts Union, his election aimed to stabilize the country after years of civil war and Islamist insurgency.

Sharif Ahmed signed the Kampala Accord with the Speaker of Parliament, extending his term by one year in exchange for appointing a new prime minister. The deal was brokered by Uganda to resolve a political crisis, but was criticized by some as undemocratic.

Sharif Ahmed was defeated in the 2012 presidential election by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The election marked the end of the transitional government and the beginning of a new federal government, though Sharif remained a political figure.