Description

Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed was elected by a de facto parliament in January 2009. Since taking office nine months ago, Ahmed has been living under siege in a presidential compound. Al Shabaab, which some experts believe has ties to Al Queda, is a ruthless organization that's left a trail of dead throughout the country. Ahmed had been driven out of Somalia in 2006 by U.S.-backed Ethiopian forces. At the time, his brand of Islamic leadership and justice was considered too extreme, not anymore.