Ali Mahdi, Muhammad (1934– )

Somali politician, president 1991–97. He became a member of parliament shortly before the October 1969 coup that brought Muhammad Siad Barre to power. Following the change of government he left politics to go into business. He joined the opposition United Somali Congress (USC), the party that took control when Barre's government collapsed in 1991. He became president of an interim government but the appointment was opposed by other organizations, particularly the Somali National Movement (SNM), which led the secession of the northern part of the country. A conference held in 1991 partially helped to restore order and Ali Mahdi was confirmed as interim president for another two years. However hostilities continued and in 1994 he took part in peace talks in Nairobi aimed at forming a government of national reconciliation. These and subsequent efforts failed to bring peace to Somalia.

Ali Mahdi was born in Jowa and comes from the Hawiye ethnic group.