Abdisalam Abdi Ali

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Abdisalam Abdi Ali is a Somali politician serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia since May 2025 to present. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia[1] and as Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing. He is a member of the 11th Federal Parliament of Somalia.

Abdisalam Abdi Ali studied Healthcare Administration as his major, with a minor in Business Management and Administration at the University of Toledo. He later completed an executive education program in Global Business and Politics at the Yale School of Management.[2]

Career

Private sector career

Before entering public service, Abdisalam Abdi Ali worked in the private sector, where he founded and managed companies in the healthcare and logistics sectors. His work involved business development, financial oversight, and operational management.

Political Career

Abdisalam Abdi Ali was elected as a member of the 11th Federal Parliament of Somalia, where he served on the Committee for Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries.

He later served as Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, where he was involved in infrastructure development and reconstruction efforts.

He subsequently served as Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, contributing to national development and government coordination.

H.E Abdisalaam Abdi Ali Shaking Hands with H.E President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

He currently serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, having been appointed in a 2025 Somalia cabinet reshuffle overseeing Somalia’s diplomatic relations and international partnerships.[3]

Tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

During his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Somalia expanded its diplomatic engagement and participation in regional and continental institutions.

Somalia was elected to the African Union Peace and Security Council, increasing its role in regional peace and security decision-making within the African Union.[4]

Somalia also formally acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), becoming the 45th member state. The accession was formalized during the 35th Ordinary Session of the APR Forum of Heads of State and Government, where the Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.[5]

During the same period, Somalia concluded a number of visa-waiver agreements for holders of Somali diplomatic passports, facilitating official travel [6] and strengthening bilateral relations expanding Somalia Diplomatic Visa Agreements.[7]

Countries with visa-waiver arrangements for Somali diplomatic passport holders include:

  • Algeria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Djibouti
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Indonesia
  • Pakistan
  • Qatar
  • Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Türkiye
  • Uganda
H.E Abdisalam Abdi Ali Signing Visa Free for Somali Diplomatic Passport in Indonesia

During this period, Somalia’s passport ranking showed measurable improvement. According to the Henley Passport Index, Somalia’s passport ranking improved from 101st in 2016 to 95th in 2025, with Somali citizens able to access more than 30 destinations without a prior visa.[5]

These developments have been associated with increased diplomatic engagement and the expansion of bilateral agreements aimed at facilitating mobility and international cooperation.[8]

Policy and focus areas

Personal life

References

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