Ismail H. Warsame is a Somali-Canadian political figure, author, and analyst. He played a foundational role in establishing the Puntland State of Somalia and is a prominent voice in Somali politics through his writings.
Area Details
Political Role First Chief of Staff/Cabinet for Puntland State (1998-2004). Key architect of Somali federalism.
International Work Zonal/National Technical Coordinator for UN/World Bank Reconstruction (2005-2007). Aid Coordinator for Somali TFG with EU (2007-2009).
Current Profile Political analyst and commentator. Runs “Warsame Digital Media” blog. Author of books on Somali politics.
Education Master’s in Thermal Power Engineering. Multilingual (fluent in Russian).
Political Career and Founding of Puntland
Ismail Warsame was a key founder of the Puntland State of Somalia in 1998. As the first Chief of Staff (also known as Chief of Cabinet) from 1998 to 2004, he was responsible for laying the administrative and ideological foundations of the state during its formative years. He is widely regarded as one of the original architects of the federal system in Somalia, which was envisioned as a way to rebuild the country after the civil war by decentralizing power and restoring trust in public institutions.
International Development Work
Following his service in Puntland, Warsame contributed to national reconstruction efforts with international organizations:
· From 2005 to 2007, he worked with the joint UN and World Bank Secretariat on Somalia’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), first as the Zonal Technical Coordinator for Puntland and later as the National Authorizing Officer (NAO).
· From 2007 to 2009, he served as the National Aid Technical Coordinator and Liaison Officer for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia with the European Union.
Current Work as Writer and Analyst
Now based in Toronto, Canada, Ismail Warsame is an influential independent political analyst. He runs a blog called “Warsame Digital Media” (WDM), where he publishes critical analyses and commentaries on modern Somali politics and current affairs. He is also a published author. One of his books, “Talking Truth to Power in Undemocratic Tribal Context,” became an Amazon bestseller.
Educational Background
Warsame has a strong technical educational background. He holds a Master’s degree in Thermal Power Engineering and is also a PhD candidate in the same field. He is multilingual and fluent in Russian.
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 