Mohamed Omar Habeb Dhere

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Mohamed Omar Habeb (Somali: Maxamed Cumar Xabeeb [Maxamed Dheere]) is a Somali warlord based out of the city of Jowhar. He also has significant influence on the capital of Mogadishu.

In early May, 2007, the Transitional Federal Government named him both the governor and mayor of Banadir and Mogadishu, respectively.

He was a leader of the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) in the 2001-2004 time period, and the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) in 2006.

[edit] Fight Against the Transitional National Government (TNG)

In June, 2002, Mohamed Dhere fought against the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia, the pre-cursor of the present Transitional Federal Government. He was a member of the competing Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC).^[1]

[edit] Struggle against the Islamic Courts Union (ICU)

Main article: Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (2006)

In 2006, Mohamed Dhere joined the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT), a US CIA-backed initiative comprised of Mogadishu warlords and businessmen to oppose the growing influence of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).^[2] This led to the Second Battle of Mogadishu, which resulted in the June 2006 ouster of Mohammed Dhere and the rest of the ARPCT from the capital. Thereafter, on June 14, 2006, he fled from his base of Jowhar to Ethiopia after a two-hour battle with the ICU.^[3]

Main articles: Battle of Beledweyne, Battle of Jowhar, and Fall of Mogadishu

Late in 2006, Mohamed Dhere was among many Somali groups that counterattacked the ICU. They were heavily supported by a force from the Ethiopian army and air forces, including tanks and MiG fighter aircraft. Mohamed Dhere's forces advanced through the battles of Beledweyne and Jowhar before the Fall of Mogadishu which occurred before the end of the year.