Gedi's father was an officer in the military and in 1978 joined the Somali National Security Service (NSS) under the reign of Siad Barre at the rank of Colonel.

He attended political reconciliation conferences in Mogadishu (1994 - 1996), in Cairo, Egypt (1997), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (early 1998), in Nairobi, Kenya (late 1998), in Beledweyne, Hiiran - Somalia (1999).

Lewis, Yusuf's election as president and his appointment of Gedi, who had ties to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, were heavily influenced by Ethiopia.

[7] In March 2005, a debate on deploying foreign troops, including Ethiopian forces, to Somalia led to violence after the resolution was rejected by a vote of 156 to 55.

By insisting on the deployment of foreign troops from countries bordering Somalia, Ali Gedi and Yusuf disregarded the views of their cabinet, a clear majority of transitional parliament, and much of the public.

100 members of the 275-strong parliament - led by Speaker Sharif Hassan Aden - chose to move to Mogadishu, stating they would try to restore stability to the capital.

On the other hand President Abdullahi Yusuf, Prime Minister Ali Gedi and their supporters set up base in Jowhar, 90 km north of Mogadishu, citing insecurity in the capital.

[10] In March 2006, fighting broke out between the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism (ARPCT) warlords and the Islamic Court Union (ICU) over the control of Mogadishu, which intensified in May.

The Prime Minister demanded the warlords, four of whom were members of the TFG government,[11] to cease fighting the ICU, but this command was universally ignored and so Ghedi dismissed them from Parliament.

[15] The directives that were issued, which included a ban on public meetings, attempts to organize political campaigns and major media outlets, was enforced by Ethiopian troops.