Ahmed Isse Awad

Ahmed Isse Awad or Ahmed Eissa Awed (; ; ; born 1955 in Garoowe) is a Somali politician and diplomat who served as Somali ambassador to the United States and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Personal life Hailing from the Isse Mohamoud sub-clan of the Majeerteen, Awad was born in Garoowe in 1955. He is married to Sarah Ashraf, and together they have a daughter. After the Somali Civil War, he settled in Canada and became a Canadian citizen. He studied at Concordia University in Mount Royal, Canada, then at the University of Khartoum and the Sudanese University of Science and Technology. Awad pursued further education in Africa, obtaining a master's degree in managing peace and security in Africa from the Institute for Peace and Security Studies.

Career Thabo Mbeki (left), and Ambassador Ahmed Isse Awad (right), meet in the VIP lounge at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia on 20 July 2019. alt=Thabo Mbeki (left), and Ambassador Ahmed Isse Awad (right), meet in the VIP lounge at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia on 20 July 2019.

Upon completing his studies, Awad began his career in public service and diplomacy. He served as the chief of staff to Somalia's prime minister, primarily working with Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah, from 2001 to 2004. During his tenure, he played an active role in the Somali peace talks held in 2003–04 in Kenya, aimed at resolving the country's protracted conflicts.

Following his time in Somalia's government, Awad joined the United Nations and engaged in peacekeeping missions in Sudan and South Sudan for almost a decade. He served in various locations, including Abyei, Kadugli, and Darfur, where he contributed to efforts aimed at promoting stability and security in the region.

While Awad was a potential candidate for Somalia's prime minister position in 2014, the appointment ultimately went to Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke. The following year, Awad helped establish the Somali embassy in the United States. He was appointed Ambassador of Somalia to the United States in 2015, presenting his credentials to President Barack Obama on 17 September 2015.