Mohamed Ali Yusuf

Mohamed Ali Yusuf (Maxamed Cali Yusuf, sometimes Maxamed Yuusuf Gaagaab ) is the Interim vice president of Puntland between the 1st and 2nd. His nickname is Gaagaab.

Personal life
Gaagaab was born in 1944 in Godobjiran, Somalia. He is 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 Mogadish 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.

He was imprisoned from 1985 for seven years under the Siad Barre regime for his party's revolutionary aims in Somalia, including founding a magazine.

He left Somalia in 1992 for Denmark.

He returned to Somalia in 1996 to join the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF).

Vice President of Puntland
On October 10, 2004, former President Puntland announced his retirement to run for the presidency of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, and former vice President Mohamed Abdi Hashi became the interim president and Gaagaab became the interim vice President as a transitional period until the next presidential election. He retired on January 8, 2005.

Minister of Finance of Puntland
In January 2005, Gaagaab ran unsuccessfully for the presidency of Puntland. He became Puntland's Minister of Finance under President Mohamud Muse Hersi.

In April 2007, a boy from a minority clan was accidentally shot and killed by troops trying to quell a demonstration. Finance Minister Gaagaab refused to pay compensation. However, he did pay compensation to another majority clan, which was criticized as discriminatory against the minority clan.

In July 2008 he visited Bosaso as Minister of Finance. He made it clear that he would strengthen economic ties with the United Arab Emirates.

In August 2008, Gaagaab was criticized by opposition members for harassing them by placing soldiers near the entrance to the assembly.

On January 29, 2009, he resigned as Minister of Finance. His replacement was Faarax Cali jaamac.

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.

In April 2022 he served as Interim President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

In March 2024 he opposed amendments to the Constitution of Somalia.