Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf

Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf (, ; 1912–1984), commonly referred to as Haji Bashir, was a Somali politician. He was a prominent Somali Youth League (SYL) member and the first President of the Somali National Assembly during the Somali Republic's early civilian administration.

Personal life Early years Yusuf was born in 1912 in the town of Hobyo (Obbia), situated in the north-central Mudug province of Somalia.

Yusuf hailed from the Osman Mohamoud sub-clan of the Majeerteen, Harti, Darod. His son Abdullahi Hagi Bashir Ismail is a First Deputy Director-General of Somali Immigration and Naturalization, One of the high rank Senior Somali Administration Officers, as well as a writer of politics and history. Additionally, Yusuf was also a relative of the Somali-Italian actor and musician Jonis Bashir, and the Somali Politician and businessman Haji Mohamed Yasin Ismail.

Career Yusuf was a prominent member of the Somali Youth League (SYL), the country's first political party. He joined the organization in 1943,

In an administrative capacity, Yusuf initially worked in the parliament of the Trust Territory of Somaliland as an MP (Deputato) for the northeastern town of Bosaso. He was also part of a six-member Somali Youth League delegation who made an appeal for early independence before the Four-Power Commission.

On 1 July 1960, Somalia's independence day, the Somali National Assembly headed by Yusuf approved the act of union, joining the Trust Territory of Somaliland (former Italian Somaliland) with the former British Somaliland protectorate. This established the Somali Republic, and Yusuf was appointed the first President of the Somali National Assembly. He was succeeded in office by Jama Abdullahi Qalib.

Yusuf was subsequently appointed Minister of Health and Labour in 1966. He formed a key part of the Somali Republic's early civilian administration.

After a long career in Somali politics, Yusuf eventually retired to Cairo, Egypt. He died there on 2 January 1984, at the age of 72.