[4] He was a member of the Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan, and belonged to the United Somali Congress.

On 24 January 1991, and after two years under house arrest, he was appointed by then-President of Somali Democratic Republic Siad Barre as the last Prime Minister.

However, before any transfer of power could take place, the United Somali Congress rapid advance forced Barre to flee Mogadishu.

Ghalib was subsequently arrested, and in 1989, after spending seven years in prison without charges, he was tried for treason and sentenced to death.

Following protests from various foreign governments, Siad Barre commuted Ghalib's sentence but kept him under house arrest.