Mohamed Zubeyr named Somalia's youngest Ambassador

 

39-year-old Mohamed Abukar Zubeyr has been named as an ambassador in latest President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's third round of ambassadorial appointments since he took office in May 2022. [Courtesy]

Mohamed Abukar Zubeyr has been named as an ambassador in latest President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's third round of ambassadorial appointments since he took office in May 2022.

Zubeyr is among 14 new diplomats including 12 ambassadors and two consuls’ general endorsed by the Somali Council of Ministers in an extraordinary session on Tuesday night, awaiting deployment.

Although the federal government did not specify where the new diplomats would be posted, sources said the appointment aims to enhance Somalia’s global diplomatic presence.

A career public servant, Zubeyr is among the youngest senior diplomats in the history of the country.

The Ambassador-designate is currently the Permanent Secretary at the Office of Somalia Prime Minister.

He also served as the Director General at the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia, co-lead of the New Partnership Agreement, Pillar Working Group One (PWG 1) formerly known as New Deal Compact, Peace and State Building Goal One (PSG 1) on Inclusive Politics as well as chair of PWG 1 – SWG2 on Constitution.

Zubeyr has over 12 years of experience in the areas of education, trade unions, management, private/public institutional development, and research.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Management from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Graduate School of Management (GSM).

Before joining the government, Zubeyr was well-known in the academic field where he served as a lecturer at SIMAD University from 2008 till 2015.

He has also held several managerial positions including Public Relations and Information Director of the University.

While welcoming his appointment, Zubeyr vowed to work hard and ensure the country is depicted in a positive fashion.

“It is an honour to serve our beloved country. We all have no choice other than join hands and ensure Somalia is viewed differently and by this, I mean positively, around the world,” he told journalists.

The 39-year-old’s appointment comes at time when President Sheikh Mohamud appears keen to position the country as a peaceful economic hub.

Somalia was recently admitted as a member of the 350-million East African Community bloc, in a move that enables the country to trade freely in the eight-member nation bloc that includes Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

With among the largest coastline in Africa and a vibrant human resource, President Mohamud vowed to secure the country in a bid to change the economic outlook and believes diplomacy will be the key.

With a 12-year experience, Zubeyr brings to his new role a wealth of experience from the private, non-governmental and public service.

Zubeyr and his colleagues await the assumption of duties at a time when President Sheikh Mohamud’s administration is facing some diplomatic tiff with her neighbours, and mainly the stand-off with Ethiopia led by a move by Addis Ababa to sign a maritime deal with semi-autonomous Somaliland.