Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) - The former veteran journalist and the former head of the BBC Somali service Mr. Yussuf Garaad Omar was nominated for the Somali ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
Yussuf Garaad confirmed his nomination for HOL last night.
If confirmed by United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Yussuf will replace the out-going ambassador, Dr. Elmi Duaale who was the Somali ambassador to the UN in New York since 2005 .
In 2012, Yusuf retired from his position at the BBC to run for president in Somalia. Prior to his nomination for this post he was a media consultant for the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Yusuf is a French major from the Somali National University and taught French in Somalia in the eighties. He has later on attended the Global Master of Arts Programme at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA.
He has well travelled and has interviewed several Heads of State and Government in Africa and in Europe and has trained journalists in several African countries.
He was a regular analyst on the Horn of Africa Affairs on BBC Radio and TV output for two decades.
Yussuf Garaad has long been serving the Somali speaking media where is vividly remembered in particular for his role as the last head of the BBC Somali Service .