Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid

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Abdi Hasan Awale or Abdi Qeybdiid (Somali: Cabdi Xasan Cawaale (Qeybdiid)) is a Somali militia leader, or warlord. His last known affiliation was with the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism, where he held the rank of Colonel. He is also the Abdi of the July 12, 2003 Abdi House Raid which presaged the First Battle of Mogadishu.

[edit] Career synopsis

Abdi Qeybiid achieved prominence as Mohammed Farrah Aidid's interior minister in its clashes with UN forces during the so-called "nation-bulding" phase of UNOSOM II in 2003; prior to this he was police chief of Mogadishu. Like Aidid, he is a member of the Sacad sub-clan of the Habar Gedir clan.

In 2006, he fought with the ARPCT against the Islamic Courts Union in the Second Battle of Mogadishu. They surrendered on 11 July 2006, the last Allliance forces to do so.^[1]

[edit] Arrest in Sweden

In 2005 he was arrested in Lund, Sweden on suspicion of genocide, but released after a hearing in Gothenburg found insufficient evidence for a prosecution. The claims related to his role in the militia of Mohamed Farrah Aidid in 1993, the time of the (first) Battle of Mogadishu. There have been unsubstantiated allegations that the murder of Swedish journalist Martin Adler in Mogadishu may have been carried out by his followers in retaliation for this arrest.^[2]