Abdusalam H. Omer

Abdisalam Omer Hadliye
Born	Awdal, Somaliland (part of Somalia)
Occupation(s)	Economist, politician
Years active	1987–present
Known for	Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia (2013), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia (2015–2017)

Abdisalam Omer Hadliye (; ), alternatively known as Abdisalan Hadliye Omar, is a Somali economist and political figure. His professional background encompasses positions such as Chief of Staff at the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Director of the UNDP Somalia Financial Services and Governance Program, and Chief Business Officer for District of Columbia Public Schools. In 2013, he held the role of Governor at the Central Bank of Somalia. From 27 February 2015 until 29 March 2017, he was appointed Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Personal life

Omer’s lineage traces back to the northwestern Awdal area within Somaliland, where his family is part of the Gadabuursi clan.

At age 16, he moved to the United States. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Boston College in 1977, followed by a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Oklahoma State University in 1981. Subsequently, he taught courses in American politics and public administration at the University of Tennessee, where he also earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration in 1986.

He possesses citizenship in both Somalia and the United States.

Early career

In 1987, Omer was employed as a research associate at ACRC Systems based in New York City. Two years later, he relocated to Washington, D.C., taking on the role of international student advisor specializing in immigration matters at Southeastern University. Following this, he spent over three years working as a management and budget analyst focused on capital improvement initiatives for Prince William County and briefly provided consulting services on international finance for the World Bank’s Africa Region.

District of Columbia

Omer joined the Washington, D.C. Budget Office in 1992 as a senior budget analyst responsible for public safety and education sectors. He progressed to lead the public education team and was appointed chief financial officer for District of Columbia Public Schools in 1996.

By May 1997, he had advanced to deputy chief financial officer for Washington, D.C., overseeing an annual budget totaling $2 billion along with a $6 billion operating budget. During his tenure, he spearheaded extensive policy and budget reforms that resulted in balanced budgets over three consecutive years.

In April 1999, Omer was named chief of staff for the city government, managing a leadership team of 75 senior executives and supervising more than 28,000 employees. His responsibilities included directing agency heads, maintaining political connections with Congress and the Council, handling constituent relations, coordinating with national media outlets, and formulating strategic plans alongside performance measurement frameworks for the District.

World Bank and UNDP

Between 2001 and 2002, Omer acted as a municipal finance consultant for the World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific division, where he trained officials in Shanghai on bond issuance processes.

From 2002 through 2006, he directed the United Nations Development Program’s Governance and Financial Services Program across Somalia’s autonomous regions of Puntland and Somaliland. This initiative targeted improvements in tax administration, governmental budgeting practices, financial oversight, land management, urban development (in collaboration with UNHABITAT), and assistance to money transfer enterprises aimed at fostering local private sector expansion. Additionally, Omer offered economic advisory services to the Somali government, instructed over 100 financial analysts through the UN/World Bank LICUS program, founded a public administration institute, and contributed to establishing training curricula at Mogadishu’s SIMAD University.

DCPS Chief Business Officer

In February 2007, Omer took on the role of chief business officer for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), where he managed strategic planning alongside a comprehensive support services network. His responsibilities encompassed facilities management, information technology systems, procurement processes, security operations, food services, and real estate administration.

Bringing over thirty years of expertise in economics, Omer's strengths lie in financial strategy, economic governance, and reforms within the public sector.

Central Bank of Somalia

On 17 January 2013, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appointed Omer as Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia, entrusting him with the task of overhauling the nation’s monetary institution.

In May 2013, as part of efforts to aid post-conflict recovery, Omer announced plans to replace provisional banking licenses with full licenses by the end of that year. These initial licenses served to familiarize commercial banks with regulatory frameworks, including anti-money laundering standards. Interest from several international banks in obtaining such permits was also noted.

The Central Bank gathered data on inflation and informal economic activities to guide policy decisions. Additionally, the Somali government intended to introduce a new currency to succeed the Somali shilling, which had appreciated roughly 80% since 2011 but remained scarce due to no reissuance since 1991. The International Monetary Fund was anticipated to provide support following its official recognition of Somalia’s government in April 2013.

Omer indicated that after nearly two years, the Central Bank would recommence issuing debt instruments such as treasury bills.

In July 2013, the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea (SEMG) accused the Central Bank of channeling 80% of its withdrawals toward personal use and suggested it functioned as a patronage network. The report implicated Omer directly, alleging he made unilateral banking decisions without board approval and that the institution lacked legislative or governmental oversight.

Omer refuted these claims as efforts to undermine Somalia’s nascent financial institutions and called for an independent audit by Transparency International. He clarified that most funds reported missing had been transferred either into a Finance Ministry account held at the Central Bank or into an account created for regional collaborations with support from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). The presidential office dismissed the allegations as pertaining to previous administrations. Subsequently, Somali authorities engaged forensic accountants from FTI Consulting and legal experts from Shulman Rogers for a thorough investigation. By September 2013, audit findings highlighted significant methodological flaws in SEMG’s report and deemed its conclusions unreliable, recommending that corruption accusations be withdrawn and urging UN sanctions against SEMG for inadequate internal fact-finding procedures.

Omer expressed surprise at these accusations, recalling his earlier work in Washington uncovering financial improprieties. He stressed that during the timeframe referenced by SEMG he was neither governor nor affiliated with the government.

On 13 September 2013, following notification from the presidential office about forthcoming institutional reforms, Omer resigned from his position as Central Bank governor. His successor was Yussur A.F. Abrar, who became the first female head of the Central Bank.

Appointment

On 27 January 2015, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke appointed Omer as Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, succeeding Abdirahman Duale Beyle. Omer officially took office on 14 February during a formal handover event in Mogadishu, where he committed to executing his responsibilities in line with the Constitution and acknowledged Beyle's diplomatic contributions.

Somalia-Djibouti bilateral cooperation

In February 2015, Omer held discussions with Dayyib Doubad Robleh, Djibouti’s Ambassador to Somalia, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations. Topics included the deployment of Djibouti Armed Forces as part of AMISOM operations in Hiraan province. Omer expressed appreciation for Djibouti’s political and military assistance.

Summit of Arab Foreign Ministers

During March 2015, Omer participated in the Summit of Arab Foreign Ministers held in Cairo, where the agenda centered on political challenges facing Somalia and the wider region. The ministers endorsed a draft resolution to create a unified military force under the coordination of the Arab League’s Joint Defence Council.

Somalia-Djibouti-Ethiopia trilateral agreement

Also in March 2015, Omer embarked on his inaugural official visit as Foreign Minister to Djibouti, where he signed a trilateral accord alongside representatives from Djibouti and Ethiopia. The agreement aimed to bolster support for Somali federal security initiatives combating the Al-Shabaab insurgency.

Somalia-Qatar bilateral cooperation

In March 2015, Omer was part of a Federal Government delegation led by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke that traveled to Doha for discussions with Qatar’s Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The delegation, which included senior ministers and the Somali Ambassador to Qatar, concentrated on enhancing investment, trade, and governance partnerships with an emphasis on stabilization. The talks culminated in a cooperative agreement targeting civil aviation and education sectors to accelerate Somalia’s rebuilding and employment generation. Notably, plans were announced for Qatar Airways to commence flights to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.

Somalia-UAE bilateral cooperation

In March 2015, Omer met with UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to explore avenues for deepening security collaboration and reviewing ongoing joint projects. They also discussed Somalia’s political landscape. Omer commended the UAE’s development efforts and its dedication to supporting Somalia’s reconstruction.

26th Arab League summit

Omer accompanied a Somali Federal Government delegation led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to the 26th Arab League summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in March 2015. The delegation received a warm welcome from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Arab League officials. Ahead of the summit, Omer voiced support for the Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen targeting Houthi rebels. Responding to Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s appeal for Arab unity, both Omer and Mohamud reaffirmed Somalia’s endorsement of Yemen’s legitimate government and its counter-terrorism measures.

Omer officially declared Somalia’s approval for Saudi-led coalition forces to utilize its airspace, territorial waters, and land during operations in Yemen. Additionally, Somalia offered its expertise in stabilization efforts to the coalition. This authorization followed Somalia’s leasing of airspace rights to Arab states of the Persian Gulf, with strategic ports such as Bosaso and Berbera designated for coalition use due to their strategic proximity to Yemen.

Somalia-China bilateral cooperation

In April 2015, Omer held discussions with Chinese Ambassador Wei Hongtian in Mogadishu aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations. They formalized a bilateral pact that designated $13 million from Chinese resources to support Somalia's reconstruction and development initiatives spanning economic growth, healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects. Ambassador Wei reiterated China's ongoing commitment to assist Somalia's stabilization endeavors, a stance that Omer commended.

Diplomatic reshuffle

Also in April 2015, following recommendations from Omer’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Cabinet announced a series of ambassadorial appointments. Notable postings included Dahir Mohamed Geele to Saudi Arabia, Jamal Mohamed Hassan to Kenya, Jamal Mohamed Barrow to South Africa, and Fatuma Abdullahi Insaniya becoming Somalia’s inaugural female Ambassador to the United States. Khadija Mohamed maintained her ambassadorial role in Iraq. Additionally, plans were set forth to renovate embassies in France and to reopen diplomatic missions in Germany, Malaysia, and Burundi.

Somalia-Uganda bilateral cooperation

During the same month, Omer met with Uganda’s acting Ambassador Nathan Mugisha to deliberate on bilateral relations, emphasizing Uganda’s military contribution through AMISOM. Omer provided an update regarding Somalia’s ongoing reconstruction and development achievements.

Somali remittance firms

In April 2015, Omer convened with Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed in Nairobi to address concerns affecting Somali business interests, particularly the suspension of thirteen Somali-owned remittance companies following the Garissa University College attack. Omer underscored that these firms, which comply with tax regulations, primarily serve the Somali community alongside clients from various countries. Minister Mohamed agreed to review the suspension due to its economic repercussions.

Somalia-US bilateral cooperation

During a state visit to Nairobi in April 2015, Omer engaged with a delegation from the US Senate and Congress on critical bilateral matters including the counterterrorism campaign Operation Indian Ocean against Al-Shabaab, evacuation plans for Somali nationals amid the Yemen crisis, as well as prospects for trade and investment. He also briefed US lawmakers on Somalia’s sociopolitical developments and progress toward Vision 2016 objectives.

Somalia-UN bilateral cooperation

In April 2015, Omer met with UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa to provide an overview of Somalia’s socio-political landscape and reconstruction progress. He acknowledged the UN’s support for peace-building efforts while highlighting advancements in state formation across political, economic, and security domains. Kutesa reaffirmed the United Nations’ dedication to supporting Somalia’s peace and development agenda.

Somalia-Qatar bilateral cooperation

In May 2015, Omer joined President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke at Villa Somalia for talks with a Qatari delegation headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah. The discussions centered on security issues, education initiatives, and the Houthi insurgency in Yemen. Al Attiyah reiterated Qatar's commitment to backing Somalia's reconstruction efforts and expressed keen interest in investing in the country’s rich natural resources and emerging opportunities. Omer lauded Qatar’s support for Somalia’s security and stabilization programs.

Awards

In 2001, Omer was honored with the Third "Hats Off" Award by the National Association to Restore Pride in America's Capital (NARPAC) in recognition of his efforts in advancing governance within the District of Columbia.

Publications

• Abdusalam Omer and Gina El Koury, "Regulation and Supervision in a Vacuum: The Story of the Somali Remittance Sector", Small Enterprise Development, Vol. 15, No. 1 (2004)
• Abdusalam Omer, Supporting Systems and Procedures for the Effective Regulation and Monitoring of Somali Remittance Companies (Hawala), United Nations Development Programme (2002)
• Abdusalam Omer, Towards Understanding the Somali Bureaucracy, University of Tennessee (1986)

Professional memberships

• Money Transmitter Regulators Association

See also

• List of foreign ministers in 2017