Yusuf Mohamed Ismail

Yusuf Mohamed Ismail
يوسف محمد إسماعيل
Ambassador of Somalia to the United Nations Human Rights Office
In office
2008 – 27 March 2015
Prime MinisterOmar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke
Succeeded byFaduma Abdullahi Mohamud
Personal details
Born15 July 1958
Bologna, Italy
Died27 March 2015(2015-03-27) (aged 56)
Mogadishu, Somalia
Political partyIndependent
Alma materUniversity of Bologna

Yusuf Mohamed Ismail "Bari-Bari" (Somali: Yuusuf Maxamed Ismaaciil, Arabic: يوسف محمد إسماعيل; 15 July 1958 – 27 March 2015) was a Somali diplomat and politician. He was the Ambassador of Somalia to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva.

Personal life

Ismail was born in 1960 in Rome, Italy to an aristocratic Somali family.[1] He belonged to the Majeerteen Harti Darod clan.[2] His family originally hailed from Garowe, the administrative capital of the northeastern Puntland regional state of Somalia.[3]

For his tertiary education, Ismail earned a degree in political science from the University of Bologna.[1]

Career

Professionally, Ismail joined the diplomatic service. He was appointed Ambassador of Somalia to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva, Switzerland in 2008. In this capacity, Ismail worked to promote and protect human rights in his country of origin and around the world. Through his work with civil society groups, he is credited with having helped to establish the council's Independent Expert on Albinism, a global panel that was formed in 2015.[4]

On 27 March 2015, Ismail sustained injuries during an attack on Hotel Makka al-Mukarama in Mogadishu by the Al-Shabaab militant group. He later succumbed to the wounds at the hospital.[5]

President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,[6] Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali,[6] former Puntland President Abdirahman Farole,[7] and UN Special Representative for Somalia Nicholas Kay all sent their condolences to the slain diplomat's family.[8] The United Nations Human Rights Council also observed a minute of silence in honour of Ismail. President of the Council Ambassador Joachim Rücker described Ismail as a widely admired and respected leadership figure, whose commitment to global human rights left a tangible impact.[4]

On 29 March, a state funeral for Ambassador Ismail was held in Garowe. The funeral service was attended by Puntland President Ali and various Federal Government of Somalia delegates.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Somalia. Attacco al-Shabaab in un hotel a Mogadiscio, almeno 13 morti". ArticoloTre. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Ma Garbaa in Cabdiwali Gaas Xiriirka U Jaro Federaalka (Akhri Liiska Safiirada Iyo Wasiirada Beeshiisa Ee Federaalka Dhuuqaya)". Allgalgaduud. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Puntland President Attends the funeral of Ambassador Baribari in Garowe". Goobjoog. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b "UN Human Rights Council Observes Minute of Silence for Passing of Ambassador "Bari-Bari" of Somalia". Goobjoog. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  5. ^ "20 Killed in Al-Shabab Attack on Mogadishu Hotel". Voice of America. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Somalia: Mogadishu hotel standoff ends, top diplomat killed". Garowe Online. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Somalia: Ex-Puntland President lambastes central Govt for security lapse". Garowe Online. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  8. ^ "UN Somalia envoy condemns deadly terrorist attack on Mogadishu hotel". Goobjoog. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.