Sheikh Mohamed Haji
Born in 1957 in Malowle, between Hargeisa and Abaarso, Sheikh Mohamed Haji Mohamoud Hersi was raised in a family with deep roots in the region, where his grandfather maintained dry farms that remain active to this day. At an early age, Sheikh Mohamed moved to Hargeisa, where his family continues to own property in the city center.
Sheikh Mohamed completed his elementary education at Sheikh Bashir Elementary School and his intermediate studies at Biodhacay Intermediate School. Following his studies, he was selected by the government to attend Burao Technical School, a respected institution originally established and managed by West German educators before later being administered by the socialist government. There, he trained as an electrician under Somaliland scholars educated in West Germany.
After graduating, Sheikh Mohamed traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he worked as an Arabic-English translator. Upon returning to Somaliland, he continued his career as a private translator and later served as a trainer and consultant for programmes organized by UN-Habitat and the Academy for Peace and Development (APD), where he remains a member of the General Assembly.
Throughout his professional career, Sheikh Mohamed has been actively involved in governance and community development initiatives. He delivered training programmes on good governance for elected local government councillors in Borama, Gabilay, Hargeisa, Berbera, Sheikh, Burao, and Odwayne, working with several generations of local councils across Somaliland.
Alongside his professional work, Sheikh Mohamed has devoted much of his life to Islamic studies, teaching, and community leadership. From a young age, he pursued private Islamic education. For more than 17 years, he has served as the leader of the Friday congregation at Alshafi Mosque in the Goljano area of the 26 June neighborhood of Hargeisa, where he resides permanently.
A dedicated family man, Sheikh Mohamed is the father of 10 children with his beloved wife. Several of his children have pursued higher education and graduated from institutions including Abaarso School, Barwaaqo University, ADMAS University, Hargeisa University, International Islamic University Islamabad, and ATU. His youngest daughter is currently completing her secondary education at Nuradin Secondary School.