Mohamed Ali Yusuf

Mohamed Ali Yusuf Gaagaab was born on 2January 1944 in Godobjiran in Nugal, Somalia, during World War II after the British occupation of Italian Somalia. He was from the Omar Mohamoud clan of Majeerteen, Darod. He studied his primary and secondary education in Galkayo. He graduated from Jamal Abdinashir High School in Mogadishu in 1965. He received a scholarship from East Germany to study law in 1965, earning a master's degree in philosophy and international law. ==Career==

Gaagaab returned to Somalia and worked as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Law of the Somali National University. His replacement was Farah Ali Jama. Director of the Puntland Peace Center In January 2010, Gaagaab chaired a conference on security in Galkayo in his capacity as Director of the Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development (GECPD). In November 2011, after a disagreement between the Puntland and Galmudug governments regarding security, Gaagaab called on both sides to reach a peaceful resolution. In January 2014, Gaagaab ran for the Puntland presidential elections as an opposition candidate from the Mudugu region, but announced his withdrawal, leaving it to Ali Haji Warsame. However, Ali Haji Warsame did not become president also. In August 2014, Gaagaab criticized the Federal Republic of Somalia government's decision to merge Galmudug and Himan and Heeb to create the Central Regions State as a violation of the federal system. Member of the Federal Parliament In August 2021, Gaagaab became a Somali Senator representing Puntland. He served on the Committee On Rules of Procedure. He served from 11 August 2021 to 26 April 26, 2022 as Interim Speaker of the Senate of Somalia. In March 2024 he opposed amendments to the Constitution of Somalia which caused the Constitutional crisis in Somalia. ==Death==

Gaagaab died in Istanbul, Turkey, on 3December 2024, at the age of 80. He had been suffering from an age-related illness. His death was confirmed by his family, as well as colleagues in the Upper House of Parliament. Reaction Many leaders expressed their condolences, including Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, Vice President Ilyas Lugator and former Puntland Presidents Abdirahman Farole and Abdiweli Gaas. Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed expressed gratitude for Gaagaab's accomplishments; he posted on X (formerly Twitter), "President Gaagaab was a charismatic statesman and patriotic veteran who had contributed greatly to the building of the Somali state." Senior Puntland politicians and officials from the Somali federal government also shared messages of sympathy. Following the funeral, the body was transported from Mogadishu to Galkayo. He was given a state funeral by Vice President of Puntland Ilyas Osman Lugator and buried alongside Abdullahi Yusuf cemetery. ==References==