Abdifatah Sheikh Abdillahi – the Character Behind the Mask

By Mohamed Awale Kahin
August 28, 2010

What was the purpose of the U.S. visit of Mr. Abdifatah Sh. Abdillahi, the chairman of the Ethiopian Somali Peoples Democratic Party (ESPDP)? Was the underlying purpose of the visit to rally support among the Diaspora community, or to drive a wedge between the Somali communities in the U.S. on clan lines? These are some of the pertinent, although troubling questions raised by the Somali Diaspora communities in Washington, Minneapolis, San Diego and Seattle, who were baffled by the bizarre behavior of the chairman, Abdifatah Sh. Abdillahi.

Getting to know Mr. Abdifatah

Abdifatah Sh. Abdillahi

Mr. Abdifatah is a political novice who would turn every stone to move up fast in the political ladder or help members of his family accumulate ill-gotten wealth. It is widely believed that a hefty payoff to some corrupt EPRDF’s advisors in the region saved Abdifatah’s political collapse after the latter embezzled over 12 million Ethiopian Birr, which was budgeted for printing of books for primary schools (His deputy at that time is still in prison for crimes that Abdifatah’s name was written all over). When he was the head of Regional Education Bureau, the bulk of contracts for construction of schools were awarded to his own father's (sheikh Abdillahi, aka Sheikh Abdillahi Yare) numerous construction and trading firms, which at times made the charade of competing against one another.
Read More