19 Facts About Mohamed Yonis

Mohamed Behi Yonis is a Somaliland-Canadian diplomat who was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland for two years.

Mohamed Yonis worked for both African Union and the United Nations.

Mohamed Yonis served as the Director of Mission Support in UNAMID, where he contributed to addressing the mission's operational, administrative, and logistical support challenges.

Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud picked Yonis to become Somaliland's Minister of Foreign Affairs on 25 June 2013.

Mohamed Yonis attended Somaliland's first investment conference, co-hosted by the UK Government and held in London in 2014, which showcased Somaliland's investment potential to European investors.

Mohamed Yonis orchestrated the first visit by a large ministerial delegation from Ethiopia, including the Minister of Finance and Economic Development and the Minister of Transport, to Somaliland in November 2014 and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under his leadership facilitated Somaliland's participation in the first International Trade Fair held in Addis Ababa.

Mohamed Yonis was at the forefront of trade negotiations with Ethiopia, including for the development and use of Berbera Port; the reduction of trade barriers for Somaliland's private sector to enter the Ethiopian market; and securing cheaper electricity into Somaliland.

In 2015, Yonis led a high-level delegation comprising the Minister of National Planning and Development, Dr Sa'ad A Shire, and former Foreign Minister, Dr Edna Adan, to Brussels for the first Somaliland Recognition Conference at the European Parliament in January 2015.

Mohamed Yonis attended the African Development Bank's Annual Meeting in May 2015, which was celebrating the Bank's 50th anniversary and hosting the election for the new President of the Bank.

Mohamed Yonis met a number of high-level officials, including heads of state, during his trip to Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Mohamed Yonis secured several million dollars worth of funding from the Bank for water projects for Somaliland, with potential support for energy and infrastructure.

Mohamed Yonis redeveloped the Ministry's human resources, infrastructure, policies and procedures, and communication, and established many services to citizens including visas, entry permits, and business certificates.

Mohamed Yonis restructured the Ministry to better fulfill its mandate, including recruiting experienced Somalilanders to work as advisors in the legal, communication, political affairs, and international cooperation fields.

Mohamed Yonis used this international platform to discuss the many obstacles facing Somaliland at the time, including low employment rates amongst the youth, inequality, and potential avenues to tackle these issues through fairer policies and encouragement of foreign investment.

Mohamed Yonis showcased Somaliland to world leaders and presented the nation's achievements, including the peace and stability enjoyed in Somaliland and its economic development potential, to new investors.

Mohamed Yonis strengthened relations with many countries through formal and informal meetings with senior government officials from Kenya, Ethiopia, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Belgium, Ireland, the UK, and many more.

Mohamed Yonis continued to raise Somaliland's profile and achievements through interviews with leading media outlets including CNBC Africa, NRK Norway, Sky News, CNN, KTN Kenya, and The Guardian.

Mohamed Yonis resigned his position, along with eleven other government officials, in 2015 when President Silanyo unilaterally selected Muse Bihi Abdi, his party chairman, to succeed him as the parties presidential candidate in the upcoming election.

Mohamed Yonis holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Miami University and an MPA in Public Administration from Harvard University.