Somalia, 21 October 2025 — The Director of the Puntland Development and Research Center (PDRC), Ali Farah Ali, has passed away in Garowe after a prolonged illness.
In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, PDRC described Ali as a dedicated servant who served the institution for over 20 years, contributing immensely to its growth and mission.
A founding member of PDRC, Ali rose through the ranks from researcher and program coordinator to director, a position he held for more than two decades.
Before the collapse of Somalia’s central government, Ali served with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, where he worked as a senior director and brought to the role his expertise in Marine Science and navigation as a ship captain.
Following the outbreak of the civil war, he joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), contributing immensely to humanitarian response, reconstruction, and governance programs across Somalia.
His colleagues and friends remembered him as a kind, honest, and tireless leader committed to his work.
Puntland State Government is expected to accord him a state funeral in the coming days in recognition of his long service to the region and the nation.
