[2] Ali Matan was born in Hobyo into a Marehan Darod family in the Mudug Region of Somalia .

In 1950, he was imprisoned by the AFIS (Italian Trusteeship Administration) in Adado (Galgaduud) for drawing a painting depicting a Somali nomad carrying a load of 10 full sacks on his shoulders which indicated the 10 years that the country was to remain under the colonial rule.

In 1959, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was subsequently sent to Italy, where he commenced a training as a first class pilot, according to the type of aircraft then available at that time in Somalia.

Upon his return from Italy in 1960, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and together with his colleagues were transferred to the newly created Somali Air Force.

In 1963, he was promoted to the rank of major, and towards the end of that year, he was sent to the Soviet Forces Academy in Moscow, where he undertook training as a full-fledged Mig pilot.

Upon his return from the Soviet Union in 1965, he was appointed as the new Commander of the Somali Air Force and in 1967 was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.