Yusuf Abdi Ali
Yusuf Abdi Ali "Tukeh" is a former Somali Colonel and head of the Somali National Army's Fifth Brigade, under the former Somali Democratic Republic. In 2019, a US jury found Ali guilty of committing acts of torture during Somalia's civil war in the late 1980s.
Somali National Army
Colonel Tukeh served in the Somali National Army from 1987-1988 under former President Siad Barre. He particularly fought against clan based rebels belonging to the Isaaq clan, the Somali National Movement, in the northern regions of Somalia. Tukeh would later be trialed and found guilty for his war crimes during his time in the north. He participated in the 1988 Hargeisa-Burao offensive, and Battle of Burao, on the side of the Somali government. Where a pivotal member of the SNM, Mohamed Farah Dalmar Yusuf was killed in action by Somali Troops, and another SNM member, Ahmed Mire Mohamed wounded in action.Despite this controversy, Tukeh is renowned by many Somalis for his action’s against the SNM rebels and Ethiopia.
Tukeh currently resides in the city of Las Anod, where he was welcomed after being deported from the USA. Upon his arrival in Las Anod, he addressed a crowd of supporters, in which he said:”I am very glad to be here in Las anod today. I want to thank those who have supported me over the past 32 years. I am happy to die today, because I am in a free Las Anod with its strong army.”