Abdi Mohamoud Omar

Abdi Mohamoud Omar (Somali: Cabdi Maxamuud Cumar), 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.

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 58–59) Degehabur, Hararghe Province, Ethiopian Empire
Political party	Ethiopian Somali People's Democratic Party

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. However, he was removed from his positions and arrested a few months after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed office.^[2]

Career

Abdi Omar’s name appeared on the electoral list during the 2005 Ethiopian election,^[3] when the Somali tribes in Somali Region were loggerheaded for sharing electoral seats. Beyond his military links, Godfather and his special adviser is Abdi Ciro, who was a Somali colonel of the national security services (known as NSS), behind his promoting into the tribal electoral contests.

Becoming a member of the parliament did not come easy to Abdi, because he originated in a small sub-clan of Abdille, the major clan of the Ogaden. Those had no district with the Korahe region. His candidates caused a lot of controversial talk, with the interference of indisputable Ethiopian military commanders resulted to register him to be a parliament member acting of the Korahe region.^[4][5]

Before Abdi Mohamoud 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 and criminal charges

On 6 August 2018, Abdi Mohamoud Omar resigned as President of the Somali Region following the unconstitutional forceful removal and the violence that erupted in the regional capital Jigjiga on 4th of August.^[6] He was replaced as president by Mustafa Muhummed Omer. On 27 August, it was reported that Abdi had been arrested by federal forces and charged with crimes.^[7]

On 30 January 2019, Abdi was additionally charged with attempting to incite violence and "overthrow the constitutional order", but was held under custody without being charged.

On March 14th 2024, Abdi Mohamoud Omar was unconditionally released from prison after serving 6 years prison sentence. .^[8][9]