Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the House of the People, Somali Federal Parliament
In office August 2018 – 2020
Personal details
Born
21 October 1985 Somalia
Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur aka 'Jama' is the current Minister of Defence of Republic of Somalia.[1] since December 26, 2021.
Life
Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur is a Somali politician and diplomat who currently serves as the Minister of Defense in the Federal Government of Somalia, a position he has held since 2021. He is particularly noted for his firm commitment to the fight against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, aiming to strengthen the country's security forces and weaken the group's influence during his tenure. Prior to his current role, he served as the Minister of Justice from September 2020 to 2021.
Nur has also held several key positions in the Somali government, including as the Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the House of the People.[2] in the Somali Federal Parliament from August 2018 to 2020. Earlier in his career, Nur played a significant role in the country's national security apparatus, serving as the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency(NISA) from May 2017 to August 2018, and acting as the Acting Director of NISA from October 2017 to February 2018.[3]
His diplomatic career includes his tenure as Chargé d'Affaires [4]at the Somali Embassy[5] in Ankara, Türkiye, from September 2016 to May 2017. He also served as First Counsellor at the same embassy from September 2015 to May 2017. Prior to these roles, he held the positions of First Secretary (2012–2015) and Second Secretary (2009–2012) at the Somali Embassy in Ankara, Türkiye.[6]
In addition to his diplomatic and governmental roles, Nur has held security-related positions, including his earlier work as the Head of Security at Villa Somalia, the Presidential Palace.[7]
Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur played an active role in the signing of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement on February 8, 2024, with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler in Ankara, Türkiye. The agreement aims to bolster Somalia's fight against terrorism and strengthen military-financial cooperation between the two nations. The deepening relationship between Somalia and Türkiye has been ongoing, especially since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Somalia in 2011.[8]
Nur holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from the Political Science Department of Ankara University,[9] also known as Mekteb-i Mülkiye, one of Türkiye's most prestigious institutions for political science studies.[10] He is fluent in Somali, English, and Turkish.[11]