I was born in Somalia to ordinary family and lived an ordinary life, sharing in the common joys and hardships of life.  I left the country in 1994 to pursue my studies abroad, graduating from the International University of Africa in 1997 with a degree in laws before gaining a Master of Laws in comparative federalism from the National University of Malaysia.

I subsequently settled in the UK, and attended several courses onmanagement and leadership, strategic communications, conflict resolution, negotiations skills. I become active member of the Somali Diaspora community and played arole in a variety of welfareand media outreach projects, related tointegration, civic engagements,and de-radicalisation of young Muslims.

I established Somali Concern Groupwith other key members of UK based Somali activists and become executive directorof North London Muslim Welfare Centre.

Burdened by the crisis in our homeland, I eventually returned to Somalia in 2007 to serve as deputy chairman of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS).

In that capacity, I served as the ARS’ chief negotiator during the landmark Djibouti talks in 2008-2009, which ultimately led to the formation of the Transitional Federal Government.

I joined the post-Djibouti government as Minister of National Planning and InternationalCooperation and Member of Parliament.I had also played a key role in negotiating the Kampala Accord in 2011, which became the basis for the roadmap to end the transition.

Burdened by the crisis in our homeland, I eventually returned to Somalia in 2007 to serve as deputy chairman of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS).

In that capacity, I served as the ARS’ chief negotiator during the landmark Djibouti talks in 2008-2009, which ultimately led to the formation of the Transitional Federal Government.

I joined the post-Djibouti government as Minister of National Planning and InternationalCooperation and Member of Parliament.I had also played a key role in negotiating the Kampala Accord in 2011, which became the basis for the roadmap to end the transition.

When, subsequent to this, the first post-transitional government was set up in 2012, I initially joined it as a Senior Policy Advisor to the President of the Federal Republic.

Alas, despite my eagerness to serve and despite sharing the general optimism that our country had turned a corner, I came to the realisation, to my huge disappointment, that poor leadership and management continued to prevail. I therefore resigned and in 2014 joined the United Nation Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) as the Senior Political Advisor to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG).

In this role, I helped shape the emergence of a federal system in Somalia from the outside.  I was instrumental in the UN’s support for state formation processes in various parts of the country, helped mediate, and also played a key part in laying the foundations for the credible, transparent, free and fair electoral process in 2016 that I think our country so deserves and needs.

In this capacity, I led our work and engagement in the preparation of the London II Conference, including setting its agenda, developing the relevant substantive plans, and negotiating the final communiqué on behalf of the Federal Republic of Somalia.  I was also honoured to represent the Federal Government during the Addis Ababa talks that led to the Jubba Agreement and the formation of the Jubbaland Administration.