By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia (Dawan), 10 August 2026 — Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, widely known as ‘Jama’, has moved through Somalia's diplomatic, intelligence and ministerial ranks before being elected speaker of the House of the People, giving him experience across the country’s security and political institutions.
Nur, who was serving as Somalia's minister of ports and marine transport before Monday's parliamentary vote, previously held the defence and justice portfolios. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre appointed him minister of ports and maritime transport in March 2025.
His government career also includes a period as deputy director of Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), as well as a stint as acting director, according to biographical information available on his professional profile. He later served as a senior adviser to the speaker of the House of the People.
Before entering senior government positions, Nur worked in Somalia's diplomatic service in Turkey. He served at the Somali Embassy in Ankara, including as first counsellor and chargé d'affairs, according to his published biography.
Nur studied political science and international relations at Ankara University in Turkey.
Related articles
His career has also included a focus on Somalia's security relationship with Turkey. As defence minister, he was involved in the signing of a defence and economic cooperation framework between Somalia and Turkey in 2024, an agreement aimed at strengthening security cooperation between the two countries.
As he accepted the speakership on Monday, Nur said he would leave his government and political positions to preserve the neutrality required of the speaker.
He also pledged to reach out to lawmakers absent from parliament over political grievances and said he would work with the Senate and the federal member state assemblies.
Nur secured 142 votes in Monday's election, defeating Abdulkadir Omar Moallim ‘Daada’, who received 30 votes, while two ballots were declared invalid, according to Acting Speaker Sadia Yasin.
His election places a former diplomat, intelligence official and cabinet minister at the head of the House of the People as the country faces political disputes over the constitution, elections and relations between the federal government and opposition groups.