He was educated in Moscow and later joined the Somali National Army, rising to the rank of colonel.
In the mid-1970s, the Soviet Union promoted Jama as the chief ideologue of socialism in the Horn of Africa.
He was later imprisoned for 11 years by the regime of Mohamed Siad Barre after having been accused of participating in an abortive coup d'état.
However, the position was contested with outgoing President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, who wanted his tenure extended.
[5] Jama was deposed as president of Puntland in May 2002 when the Ethiopian army helped oust him in order to install Abdullahi Yusuf.