Sharif Sheikh Ahmed

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (, ; born 25 July 1965) is a Somali politician who served as the 7th President of Somalia from 2009 to 2012. Before his presidency, he led the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) from 2004 to 2007, a coalition of Sharia courts aiming to restore law and order in Somalia.

In 2004, Sharif became the head of the ICU. By mid-2006, the organization had wrested control of Mogadishu from warlords and expanded territorial control across much of Somalia. This rapid rise prompted a full-scale Ethiopian invasion in late 2006, leading to the ICU's governing body to collapse. In the ensuing military occupation and Islamist insurgency, Sharif assumed leadership of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS). Following Ethiopia’s troop withdrawal in January 2009, Sharif was elected President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Sharif’s TFG administration faced fierce opposition from militant groups like Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, which demanded the withdrawal of African Union troops that had been deployed following the invasion and the full implementation of Sharia law. In early 2009, his government nearly fell to an insurgent offensive in Mogadishu. However, by 2011, his administration—with African Union support—managed to drive Al-Shabaab out of the capital. Despite these gains, Somalia under Sharif's leadership continued to rank as a failed state, struggling with limited popular support and widespread governance challenges. By the end of his term, the TFG transitioned into the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). In the 2012 presidential election, Sharif was defeated by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

After his presidency, Sharif founded the Islamic democratic Himilo Qaran political party and later established the Forum for National Parties. He also serves as chairperson of the Council of Presidential Candidates of Somalia. Provided by Wikipedia