Minister biography
MINISTER OF DEFENCE Appointed On Jan 18 2025
MD: MOHAMED YUSUF ALI
Honorable MOHAMED YUSUF ALI
Minister of Defense, Republic of Somaliland
Mohamed Yusuf Ali was appointed as the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Somaliland on December 14, 2024.
Defense Experience
Since assuming office, Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali has prioritized defense transformation, capacity building, and regional security, ensuring that Somaliland’s military remains well-equipped and professionally trained.
He currently serves as the head of the Somaliland Army Reform Committee and is a member of multiple other government committees. His leadership continues to shape Somaliland’s defense strategies, strengthen international cooperation, and promote regional stability.
Additionally, he has extensive experience as a security advisor for government institutions and international NGOs.
Professional Experience
With a background in public administration, security policy, and corporate leadership, Mohamed Yusuf Ali brings extensive expertise to the defense sector, focusing on military modernization, strategic reform, and national security enhancement.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management Studies from Khartoum University, Sudan (1999) and a Higher International Diploma in Accounting and Finance from Cambridge International College (online, 2011). His academic background has provided him with a strong foundation in leadership, financial oversight, and strategic planning. Additionally, he has completed extensive courses in national security, strategic studies, public policy, and governance.
BIOGRAPHY OF General Director OF DEFENCE

maxamuud cabdirisaaq cabdi is currently Director General of Ministry of
Defence and was appointed on jan 2025.
Mohamoud Abdirisak
Director General | Ministry of Defence | Somaliland
With over 12 years of leadership experience in the governance sector, he is currently serving as the Director General of the Ministry of Defence in Somaliland. Throughout my career, I have held various departmental head roles within the Ministry, driving policy development, organizational transformation, and strategic defense initiatives.
He hold an MA in Peace and Security Studies from Addis Ababa University and an MA in Governance and Leadership from the University of Hargeisa. Additionally, he was completed a postgraduate program in Policy Planning at the GIMPA Institute in Ghana and a prestigious Research Fellowship in Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan, where he conducted research at the Taiwan National Library