Abdi Mohamoud Omar
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|
Abdi Mohamoud Omar | |
|---|---|
| Cabdi Maxamuud Cumar | |
 | |
| President of the Somali Region | |
| In office 2010–2018 | |
| Succeeded by | Mustafa Mohammed Omar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1966 (age 59–60) |
| Citizenship | Ethiopia |
| Party | Ethiopian Somali People's Democratic Party |
Abdi Mohamoud Omar (Somali: Cabdi Maxamuud Cumar; born 1966), also known as Abdi Ilay (Somali: Cabdi Ilay), is an Ethiopian politician who served as the president of the Somali Region in Ethiopia from 2010 to 2018.
He was a member of the ruling regional party Ethiopian Somali People's Democratic Party (ESPDP),[1] as well as a number five of the Meles Zenawi Foundation. Abdi Omar was removed from these positions and arrested a few months after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed office.[2] Following his arrest, he was imprisoned on charges of human rights abuses until his release in March 2024, when all charges against him were dropped.[3]
Career
[edit]Abdi Omar’s name appeared on the electoral list during the 2005 Ethiopian election,[4] when the Somali tribes in the Somali Region were loggerheaded for sharing electoral seats.
Becoming a member of parliament proved challenging as Abdi Omar originated from a small sub-clan of the Abdille, the major clan of the Ogaden which lacked an official district within the Korahe region. His candidates caused significant controversy, however, the interference of indisputable Ethiopian military commanders ultimately resulted in his registration as a parliament member, representating the Korahe region.[5][6]
Before Abdi Omar was elected president of Somali region, he served as the regional security chief under president Abdullahi Lugbur, countering numerous threats by both ONLF rebels and the Islamic extremist group Al-Ittihad.
Resignation, charges, and release
[edit]On 6 August 2018, Abdi Omar resigned as President of the Somali Region following the unconstitutional forceful removal and the violence that erupted in the regional capital Jigjiga two days earlier.[7] He was replaced as president by Mustafa Muhummed Omer. On 27 August, Abdi Omar was arrested by federal forces and charged with crimes.[8] On 30 January 2019, he was additionally charged with attempting to incite violence and "overthrow the constitutional order", and was held in custody.
On March 14, 2024, the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice withdrew all pending charges against Omar and ordered his unconditional release from prison, citing the "sake of public interest". His release occurred after he had served more than five years in custody following his August 2018 arrest.[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Ethiopia: ESPDP and ONLF the lesser of Two Evils". Wardheer news. 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
- ↑ "Africa News, "Ethiopia police arrest ex-Somali region president Abdi Illey"".
- 1 2 Bader, Laetitia (15 March 2024). "Ethiopia Releases Ex-Politician Implicated in Heinous Crimes". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
- ↑ "Abdi Mohamud Omar: From Humble Beginning To The Greatest Achiever". waamonews. 2013-09-14. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
- ↑ ""We are Like the Dead": Torture and other Abuses in Jail Ogaden, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
- ↑ "Ethiopia: Swedish journalists must be released immediately and unconditionally". www.amnesty.org. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
- ↑ "Ethiopia: President of Ethiopia's Turbulent Somali Region Resigns". allafrica.com. 2018-08-06.
- ↑ Shaban, Abdur Raman Alfa (August 30, 2018). "Ethiopia's Somali regional politics: new leader, Abdi Illey charged, Liyu police". Africa News. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
External links
[edit]- Ethiomedia[link removed], the regional administration chief (President) led by Abdi Mohamud Omar is convincing the Federal government
- "Ethiopia 'kills 123 ONLF rebels'". BBC. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
Abdi Mohamoud Omar, president of the Somali region of Ethiopia