His Excellency
Mr Abdulkadir Hashi
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the United Kingdom and the Permanent Representative to the IMO
When His Excellency Mr Abdulkadir Hashi returned to London in January 2025 to take up his post as Ambassador of the Somali Republic to the Court of St James’s, it was a homecoming of sorts. Nearly four decades earlier, as a young Second Secretary at the Somali Embassy, he had accompanied then Ambassador Sherif Muhammad Ali to Buckingham Palace when the latter presented his credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“I still remember the honour of riding in the carriage to Buckingham Palace for the first time,” he recalls. “To return now, almost 40 years later, as Ambassador, is a deeply meaningful experience.”
Though much has changed in London and in the wider world since those early days, Ambassador Hashi’s commitment to diplomacy and public service remains steadfast. “London was a totally different place. There was a two-party political system in place, Margaret Thatcher was in power, and the Soviet Union still existed,” he recalls. Over a career that has spanned postings in North America and Europe, ministerial roles in Somalia, and senior political appointments, he has remained dedicated to the principles of fairness, dialogue, and international cooperation.
Path into Diplomacy
Born and raised in the town of Goldogob, in Somalia’s Mudug region, Ambassador Hashi’s early years were shaped by the challenges and aspirations of a country navigating socialism and Cold War geopolitics. From an early age, he was drawn to international affairs. At just 17, he wrote in a school essay that he hoped to become an ambassador—a vision that, with determination and opportunity, would be realised.
After early work experiences in Libya, he landed in New York in 1981. He recalls arriving in Harlem at a distant cousin’s house. “Reagan had recently been elected, and I arrived in this African American community where everyone was roller-skating down Lennox Avenue with cassette players on their shoulders. It was an eye opener in cultural diversity.”
Ambassador Hashi soon became politically active among the Somali diaspora. In 1982, he played a pivotal role in mobilising Somali students across the US to support a state visit by President Siad Barre—an initiative that earned him recognition and, ultimately, entry into Somalia’s diplomatic service.
His first overseas posting was to Canada, before being transferred to London in 1983, marking the beginning of a long and distinguished career in diplomacy and governance.
Ministerial Service and Political Engagement
Beyond his diplomatic postings, Ambassador Hashi has served Somalia in several ministerial capacities. These include State Minister of Planning and International Relations for his home state, Puntland, appointment as the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, and serving as the Minister of Education and Higher Education.
He was also the founding president of the Puntland Diaspora Forum, established to strengthen ties between Somalis abroad and their homeland. As a member of the Federal Parliament, he played a pivotal role in legislative reform in Somalia at a crucial time when Somalia emerged from a long-lasting transition. As a member of the finance committee, he helped draft Somalia’s first public finance management bill—a critical step towards debt relief negotiations with international financial institutions.
Reflecting on his political life, he notes: “Public service is something I was always drawn back to. Politics, for me, is a lifelong calling.”
Strengthening UK–Somalia Relations
As Ambassador in London, he is focused on deepening relations between Somalia and the United Kingdom. “The UK has been one of Somalia’s most steadfast partners,” he says. “Even during the years of state collapse, the UK never abandoned us. Now, I want to move our relationship to greater heights in a manner that advances our mutual interest. In a world that is witnessing unforeseen challenges as opportunities, I want to develop a relationship firmly grounded on mutually shared interest,” says Ambassador Hashi.
He highlights the importance of building connections not only at the governmental level, but also among the Somali diaspora in Britain, and through ties in academia, business, and civil society.
With Somalia’s extensive coastline (the longest in Africa), strategic maritime position neighbouring the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, and rich natural resources, he sees significant potential for trade and investment partnerships with the UK, particularly in areas that can generate employment. “We must improve the life of our youth,” he explains, “by energising the private sector to create jobs, as well as through public private partnerships where we can.”
During his posting in the UK, the Ambassador is also his country’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organisation.
Ambassador Hashi with Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison CMG CVO on their way to Buckingham Palace
Ambassador Hashi with Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison CMG CVO on their way to Buckingham Palace
Ambassador Hashi with then Ambassador of Somalia HE Salah M. Ali and the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps at the latter’s presentation of his Letters of Credence to HM The Queen Elizabeth II
Ambassador Hashi with then Ambassador of Somalia HE Salah M. Ali and the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps at the latter’s presentation of his Letters of Credence to HM The Queen Elizabeth II
Global Challenges and Somalia’s Role
Ambassador Hashi speaks candidly about the difficulties of navigating today’s complex international system. With Somalia serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the stakes are high.
“In this turbulent world, navigating Security Council membership without ruffling too many feathers requires careful diplomacy and wisdom. As you know, membership in this prestigious body, the UNSC, can bring immense opportunities but can at the same time be a source of very difficult challenges.”
On global issues such as climate change, he emphasises Somalia’s dual role as both a victim and a responsible actor. Although Somalia contributes just 0.003 per cent of global emissions, it is one of many African countries most acutely affected by the climate crisis. “We are doing what we can with limited resources,” he explains, “but we call on the developed world to help us mitigate the consequences of a crisis that is hardly of our making.”
Personal Reflections
Ambassador Hashi’s career has been marked by historic moments, like witnessing first-hand the profound shifts in global politics after 9/11. Yet amid these milestones, his personal philosophy remains consistent: a belief in fairness, empathy, and the importance of creating opportunity for others.
His wife, Abla Abdirahman Sayid Mohamed, is the granddaughter of Sayyid Muhammad Abdullah Hassan – the famed Somali nationalist leader known by the British as the ‘Mad Mullah of Somaliland,’ and he has four children and three grandchildren. His pastimes are reading, table tennis, and music. “Classical Somali music always helps me reset my mood,” he says with a smile.
Looking Ahead
As he settles into his new role in London, Ambassador Hashi is determined to build bridges between Somalia and the UK, between governments and peoples, and between Somalia’s past and its future. His vision is clear—of a Somalia that is stable, prosperous, engaged in the global community and like the motto of the President of Somalia, Hassan Sh. Mohamud: ‘is at peace with itself and the wider world.’
“The United Kingdom is one of our very topmost important partners,” he concludes. “Together, we can strengthen ties that benefit both our peoples, and contribute to peace, stability, and progress in our region and the world.”
Built with Shorthand