His stronghold is north Mogadishu and he is a former deputy to Ali Mahdi Mohammed, who is now a member of the 245-strong assembly .

BBC: Somali warlord backs government

Islamists who last week captured Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, tightened their grip on the southern half of the fragmented country by taking Jowhar, which had served as a temporary capital 90km (55 miles) north of Mogadishu.

ECONOMIST: Politics this week