Abdirahman Beyle
Abdirahman Duale Beyle, also known as Abdirahman D. Beileh, is a Somali economist, professor, politician, philanthropist, poet, and songwriter. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia from January 2014 to January 2015. He is currently serving as Minister of Finance of Somalia.
Personal life
Beyle was born in 1955 or 1956 in the northwestern town of Arabsiyo, Gabiley, Somaliland. For his post-secondary education, Beyle earned a bachelor's degree in finance & economics, an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.Besides Somali, he is reportedly fluent in Arabic, English, and French.
Career
Early career
In a professional capacity, Beyle taught economics, statistics and finance at universities in Saudi Arabia and the United States.He later accepted a position at the African Development Bank, where he worked as a finance officer. He served as an economist, manager and director in various AfDB departments, including agriculture and rural development, water, and operations policies and procedures. His last appointment at the institution was as the head of the AfDB's Department of Agriculture and Agro-Industry. In this new leadership role, Beyle oversaw around 135 projects and investments valued at $3.5 billion, as well as managed a staff of over 100 and supervised special funds.
Besides diplomacy, teaching and economics, Beyle has also engaged in philanthropic work. To this end, he helped fund and establish a school in the Awdal region.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Appointment
On 17 January 2014, Beyle was named Somalia's new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. He succeeded Fowziya Yusuf Haji Adan at the position.Institute of Diplomacy
In February 2014, Foreign Minister Beyle announced that the federal government was slated to reopen the former Institute of Diplomacy in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital. The center historically served as one of the most important national institutions for diplomacy and international relations. Beyle also pledged to reestablish the institute's diplomacy department, its information and broadcasting department, as well as its library.Somalia-Ethiopia cooperative agreements
In February 2014, Beyle was part of a Somali government delegation in Addis Ababa led by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, where the visiting officials met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to discuss strengthening bilateral relations between Somalia and Ethiopia. The meeting concluded with a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to promote partnership and cooperation, including a cooperative agreement signed by Beyle and the Ethiopian Minister of Federal Affairs Dr. Shiferaw Teklemariam to develop the police force, a second cooperative agreement covering information matters, and a third cooperative agreement on the aviation sector.Somalia-UN cooperative agreement
In February 2014, Beyle and UN Special Representative for Somalia Nicholas Kay signed a bilateral agreement outlining the terms of future cooperation between the Somali federal government and the United Nations. According to Beyle, the pact came after extensive consultations between both parties. Along with attorneys, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended the signing of the agreement, which he commended for helping to strengthen cooperation between the Somali authorities and the UN.Somalia-Japan bilateral cooperation
In March 2014, Beyle and a Somali government delegation including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction Nadifo Mohamed Osman and Minister of Planning Said Abdullahi Mohamed made a four-day visit to Tokyo, where they met with Ambassador Tatsushi Terada and other senior Japanese government officials. President Mohamud and his delegation also conferred with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, as well as capacity training for Somali livestock and agricultural development professionals. The visit concluded with an announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Abe that his administration would put forth a $40 million funding package for the rehabilitation of Somalia's police forces, relief services, and job creation opportunities. Mohamud commended the Japanese government for intensifying its bilateral support, and suggested that the development initiatives would be centered on vocational training for youth and women, maritime and fisheries training, fisheries and agricultural infrastructure development, and communication and information technology support.Somalia, AfDB and Tunisian development cooperation
In May 2014, Foreign Minister Beyle led a high level Somali federal government delegation to the African Development Bank headquarters in Tunis, which included Finance Minister Hussein Abdi Halane and other top officials. The visiting parties are slated to meet with the AfDB president Donald Kaberuka to discuss implementation of previous reconstruction development plans and financial pledges made to Somalia. Beyle and his delegation are then scheduled to confer with Tunisian government officials over potential investment programs in Somalia.Arab-China Summit
In June 2014, Beyle led a federal government delegation to represent Somalia at the Arab-China Summit in Beijing. According to the minister, the international conference was an opportunity for the Somali authorities to attract foreign investment as part of the post-conflict reconstruction process. Beyle concurrently met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral cooperation between Somalia and China. The meeting was held at the Chinese foreign ministry center and focused on trade, security and reconstruction. Among the issues discussed were the various Chinese development projects that are in the process of being implemented in Somalia. Beyle also indicated that the Chinese authorities are slated to broaden their support for Somalia, which would serve to create new employment opportunities. Additionally, Wang commended the Somali federal government on its peace-building efforts. He likewise reaffirmed the historically close diplomatic ties between both territories, recalling China's recognition of the nascent Somali Republic in 1960 and Somalia's subsequent campaigning which helped China obtain a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.Beyle also indicated that the delegation would subsequently attend another key conference in Greece, where the foreign ministers of Arab states would meet with European Union foreign ministers.
Somalia, Turkey and UN development cooperation
In June 2014, Beyle led a Somali government delegation at a diplomatic conference in Turkey. The gathering was also attended by Turkish state officials and United Nations representatives. As part of a commitment by the Somali Foreign Ministry to accelerate the reconstruction process in Somalia and highlight local investment opportunities, Beyle briefed the attendees on the nation's commercial potential, including its extensive coastline and livestock and agricultural resources. Additionally, the Minister held a special meeting with United Nations Development Program officials on the progress and challenges of the rebuilding process. Beyle thanked the UNDP and other UN agencies for their developmental engagement in Somalia, and the UNDP in turn pledged to implement various development projects in the country.Embassy of China
On 30 June 2014, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei announced that China would dispatch a diplomatic team on 1 July to reopen the Chinese embassy in Mogadishu. He described the move as both recognition that the Somali authorities were making progress in their national reconstruction efforts and a symbol of the importance that the Chinese government attaches to its bilateral relations with Somalia. On 3 July 2014, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China Wei Hongtian presented his credentials to Foreign Minister of Somalia Beyle at an event in the Somali capital. Beyle similarly hailed the appointment as a sign of the nation's strengthening security and foreign diplomatic relations.On 15 December 2014, Wei Hongtian presented his credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Somalia. He is the first such envoy after the reopening of the Chinese embassy in Mogadishu. Foreign Minister Beyle and Ambassador Wei subsequently held a joint press conference, wherein the officials pledged to further strengthen bilateral ties. As part of the local reconstruction process, Wei also indicated that the Chinese authorities were slated to implement various development projects in Somalia.