Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed

Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was the transitional president of Somalia. He resigned on December 29, 2008 after four years in power.The New York Times: Somalia's President Resigns (December 29, 2008)The parliament will elect a new leader within 30 days. Until then, the parliament speaker will act as president of the transitional government of Somalia.USA Today: Somalia's president resigns after 4 years in power (December 29, 2008)

The transitional government of Somalia has been in a struggle for power with Islamic militants in Somalia since its establishment in 2004. The TFG was established as a temporary solution until elections are held in Somalia.The New York Times: Somalia's President Resigns (December 29, 2008)

A decorated Somali National Army officer, Ahmed was instrumental in founding the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) in the early 1980s. The guerrilla movement was aimed at ousting then Somali dictator Siad Barre. In the 1990s, Ahmed became the leader of his native Puntland region.BBC News: Profile: Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed

Militia members loyal to Ahmed have been accused by the U.S. State Department of having been involved in the extrajudicial killings of two non-combatants, Garah Mohammend Said Gom'ad and Sultan Ahmed Mohammed Hurre.

On June 1, 2008, Islamic insurgents fired rockets at a plane carrying Ahmed and other officials as it was preparing to take off in Mogadishu. The assassination attempt was the second on Ahmed since taking office. The first was a car bombing that occurred outside the Somali parliament building in September 2006.CNN: Somali President Escapes Assassination Bid (June 1, 2008)

• 1934: December 15, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is born a member of the Darod clan

• 1977-1978: Fights in the Ogaden War

• 1978: September, Organizes the Somali Salvation Democratic Front

• 1978: Leads a coup against General Siad Barre, which fails

• 1998: July 23, Elected president of Puntland

• 2001: July 1, Abdullahi Yusuf's term expires

• 2002: May, Through military action, Abdullahi Yusuf regains the presidency of Puntland

• 2004: October 10, Elected President of the Transitional Federal Government

• 2006: September 18, A suicide bomber hits Yusef's car killing 8 people. Yusef survives