Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has guided the nation in mourning the passing of former Puntland President Colonel Jama Ali Jama, who died on Saturday.

Condolence messages poured in from various regions of Somalia and from Somali diaspora communities abroad, highlighting the significant influence Jama Ali Jama had on Somalia’s political and security landscape and discussions about leadership and state building.

Following the announcement of his death, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud released a statement expressing condolences to Jama Ali Jama’s family, the people of Puntland, and all Somalis. He acknowledged that the late Puntland leader had contributed to pivotal moments that shaped modern Somali politics and national reconciliation.

According to the President, Jama Ali Jama was among Somali leaders who advanced the process of state-building and worked to strengthen unity during periods when the nation was divided by competing political ideologies.

The President highlighted Jama Ali Jama’s contributions in security, politics, and reconciliation fields, noting his dedication to Somali nationhood and public service, especially during times of political instability and uncertainty.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud prayed for the departed soul and for those impacted by his death, urging Somalis to contemplate the values of unity and dialogue.

May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdows as his eternal home, and bestow patience and steadfastness upon his family, relatives, and all Somali people,” stated the president.

Somalis from various regions and international communities also issued condolences, with many expressing shock at Jama Ali Jama’s death. They characterized his life as intertwined with critical events in Somalia’s political and military journey, especially in Puntland and the period after the central government’s collapse.

Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, was among prominent officials who publicly expressed sympathy, offering condolences to the family of the deceased leader and to the entire Somali nation.

The ambassador discussed Jama Ali Jama’s personal trajectory and historical significance in Somalia, emphasizing the challenges he encountered and consequential decisions made during times of conflict and political transformation.

Colonel Jama was a person of remarkable fortitude who endured profound suffering and contributed significantly while maintaining unwavering dignity,” he stated.

Jama Ali Jama held the rank of colonel in the Somali National Army and was stationed in Mogadishu during the October 1969 military coup that established the Supreme Revolutionary Council, a transformational event that reconfigured Somalia’s political framework and military institutions.

Subsequently, Jama Ali Jama was imprisoned without trial starting in 1978, a confinement that persisted for multiple years and was documented by Amnesty International in a 1985 report.

In 2001, clan elders in Puntland chose Jama Ali Jama to assume the presidency for a three-year period, selecting him to resolve a leadership conflict that emerged after former president Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed attempted to prolong his tenure.

This selection triggered a political crisis spanning 2001-2002, as Abdullahi Yusuf contested the results, leading to a power struggle involving violent confrontations and diplomatic mediation efforts in which Ethiopia participated.

In May 2002, troops aligned with Abdullahi Yusuf, assisted by Ethiopian forces, ousted Jama Ali Jama from power. He subsequently departed from Puntland, concluding a short and disputed presidency that remains a notable chapter in Puntland’s political narrative.