The quiet leader: Mohamed Ibrahim was a learning support teacher in Brent, north London.
Now he is deputy prime minister of Somalia
Friday, September 09, 2011
A teacher astonished his colleagues when he failed to return for the school term - because he had a new job as deputy prime minister of Somalia.
Mohamed Ibrahim, 64, has been a learning support teacher at the Newman Catholic College in Brent, north London for the past two years.
However Mr Ibrahim, who is heavily involved in politics in his home country, was summoned back to take up a senior role in the Western-backed transitional government of Somalia which was introduced over the summer
Head teacher Richard Kolka said he only found out about his staff member's political reputation when he Googled his name, to discover him on the Somalia government register.
Mr Kolka said: 'I first heard that Mohamed was not coming back to school from a Somali colleague who told me he had been appointed to an important political position.
'I Googled his name and realised that he had been appointed the new deputy prime minister of Somalia.
'I just thought Mohamed would be having a normal summer holiday, but when I found out he had helped form a new Government I must say I was truly astonished.
'I didn't quite believe it to be honest and looked at the calendar to make sure it wasn't an April fool.'
Mr Kolka said: 'Mohamed contacted me in August and said he wouldn't be returning as a learning support teacher because he was now a deputy prime minister.
'I congratulated him - but must admit it was one of those situations where you don't quite believe it is happening.'
Mr Ibrahim said in his resignation that he was 'called to my country' over the summer after being made deputy PM and minister for foreign affairs.
His email read: 'I was unexpectedly called to my country during the summer holidays at a time when the country is facing a humanitarian crisis such as drought and famine.
'I will always have Newman Catholic College in my heart and won't forget the wonderful colleagues.'
Mr Ibrahim is helping to rebuild the shattered nation of Somalia, riven by violent insurgencies and piracy, and which is suffering its worst famine in 60 years.
He has promised to visit the school when he comes to London after attending a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York at the end of this month.