Politically, Yusuf was a hardliner, inflexible and forever a military man who was quick to sideline anybody who stood in his way. His political career was boosted by warlords and others who believed the country needed a leader willing to fight.
He became president of Somalia's first Transitional Federal Government (TFG) after beating out 27 other candidates, one of them being Mohamed Mohamoud, a self-described peace activist who is also from Puntland.
"Abdullahi Yusuf was sidelining anybody who is not strictly on the military side," said Mohamoud. "He was not comfortable with the people who are politically enlightened, politically independent, politically courageous, who is against military rule."
Although he won the election with the backing of the country's warlords, they quickly turned against him when he tried to set up a government in Mogadishu, fearing a federal government would encroach on their territory.
Under pressure from the warlords, he moved the government to Baidoa in central Somalia. Then, growing more concerned about the rising power of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), he was instrumental in convincing Ethiopia to send troops into Somalia in 2006 to help prop up the TFG.
The move was unpopular with many Somalis. Former presidential candidate Mohamoud said he supported Yusuf's military strategy, but said more thought should have been given to reforming the political system.
"We were not even opposing him, even me I was not opposing him, just because I believe it was appropriate to take Somalia by force first," said Mohamoud. "But after someone takes by force, well, there should be an immediate change of the system to a rule of law."
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25