Khadija Al-Makhzoumi

Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi (; ) is a Somali diplomat and politician who has served as Minister of Family and Human Rights Development of the Federal Government of Somalia since January 2025. She previously served as Minister of Environment and Climate Change from 2022 to 2025 and as Somalia's ambassador to Iraq and Pakistan. She has also served as a member of the House of the People.

Early career

Al-Makhzoumi began her career in the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2008. She subsequently served in diplomatic and advisory positions, including an assignment with Somalia's liaison office in the United Kingdom and as a counsellor at the Somali embassy in Malaysia. She later served as a senior political adviser to the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs.

She has also served as a political adviser in relation to the Arab League.

Diplomatic career

Ambassador to Iraq

Al-Makhzoumi was appointed Ambassador of Somalia to Iraq in 2015. She was based at the Somali embassy in Baghdad. Her appointment formed part of a series of Somali diplomatic appointments made in 2015.

She served in Baghdad until 2016.

Ambassador to Pakistan

In 2016, Al-Makhzoumi was appointed Ambassador of Somalia to Pakistan, a position she held until 2022.

During her tenure, she represented Somalia in bilateral engagements and promoted cooperation between Somalia and Pakistan.

In May 2018, Pakistan and Somalia signed a US$10.5 million agreement concerning the implementation of an identification system in Somalia. The agreement was intended to support identification and related administrative processes.

Al-Makhzoumi received the Global Ambassador Award in 2021 in recognition of her diplomatic work.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

On 9 August 2022, Al-Makhzoumi was appointed Minister of Environment and Climate Change in the Federal Government of Somalia. She was the first person to serve as minister of the federal ministry responsible for environment and climate change.

As minister, she was responsible for overseeing environmental and climate policy, including the development and implementation of environmental policies, strategies, laws and regulations.

The Green Climate Fund also approved financing for a climate-resilience project in Somalia aimed at improving the resilience of smallholder farmers and strengthening sustainable landscape management.

In December 2023, Al-Makhzoumi, in her capacity as Somalia's designated authority for the Adaptation Fund, endorsed the Green and Resilient Ecosystems for Somali Livelihoods (Hal-abuur) project. The project was submitted with the International Fund for Agricultural Development as implementing entity and the SADAR Development and Resilience Institute as executing entity.

Environmental initiatives

During her tenure, Al-Makhzoumi promoted environmental restoration and climate-resilience initiatives, including Somalia's participation in the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative and the Green Somalia initiative.

The Green Somalia initiative focused on environmental restoration and tree planting as part of wider efforts to address land degradation and climate vulnerability.

Her ministry also participated in international negotiations and initiatives concerning climate change, biodiversity, marine and coastal ecosystems, and plastic pollution.

International climate diplomacy

Al-Makhzoumi represented Somalia at international climate and environmental meetings, including the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt, COP28 in the United Arab Emirates and COP29 in the Azerbaijan. She also participated in subsequent international climate and environmental negotiations.

She participated in international discussions concerning climate adaptation, climate finance, climate security and the effects of climate change on vulnerable and conflict-affected countries.

Minister of Family and Human Rights Development

On 5 January 2025, Al-Makhzoumi assumed office as Minister of Family and Human Rights Development in the Federal Government of Somalia.

As minister, she has represented Somalia in national and international discussions concerning family affairs and human rights.

In 2026, Al-Makhzoumi participated in meetings associated with the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, where she represented Somalia in discussions concerning human rights issues.

Education

Al-Makhzoumi holds a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom and a Master of Business Administration from Anglia Ruskin University.

Awards

Al-Makhzoumi received the Global Ambassador Award in 2021 in recognition of her diplomatic work and contributions to international relations.

She was also a recipient of the Africa Sustainability Outliers Award in 2023.