Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji-Faqi

Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji-Faqi (Somali: Cabdixakiin Maxamuud Xaaji Fiqi, Arabic: عبد الحكيم محمود حاجي الفقي), also spelled Abdulhakim Mahamud Fiqi,^[2] is a Somali diplomat and politician. He twice served as the Minister of Defence of Somalia.

Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji-Faqi عبد الحكيم محمود حاجي الفقي
Minister of Defence of Somalia
In office 4 November 2012 – 17 January 2014
Preceded by	Hussein Arab Isse
Succeeded by	Mohamed Sheikh Hassan
In office 12 November 2010 – 20 July 2011[1]
Preceded by	Mohamed Abdi Gandhi
Succeeded by	Hussein Arab Isse
Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia
In office 12 November 2010 – 20 July 2011[1]
Succeeded by	Hussein Arab Isse
Personal details
Born	Bay, Somalia
Political party	Independent

Personal life

Haji-Faqi hails from the Bay region in southern Somalia.^[3] He belongs to the Dabarre sub group of the Rahanweyn clan.^[4]

Haji-Faqi was previously a diplomat in Canada.^[5]

Career

On 12 November 2010, Haji-Faqi was appointed Minister of Defence of Somalia.^[6] He was also serving as one of three national deputy prime ministers of Somalia.^[7] His term as Defence Minister came to an end on 20 July 2011.^[1]

On 4 November 2012, Haji-Faqi was appointed Minister of Defence for a second time by the new Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon.^[8]

Among his first initiatives in office, Haji-Faqi led negotiations helping to secure the Arab League's support for the Somali federal government's campaign to end the longstanding arms embargo on Somalia.^[9] The blockade was eventually lifted on 6 March 2013, following the United Nations Security Council's unanimous adoption of Resolution 2093.^[10]

Haji-Faqi's second term as Minister of Defence ended on 17 January 2014, when new Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed appointed Mohamed Sheikh Hassan as his successor.^[11]