Somali advocate Omar Jamal from St. Paul takes post at U.N.

An advocate for Somalis in Minnesota has taken a new job with the Permanent Mission of the Somali Republic to the United Nations.Omar Jamal , 36, is in New York City this week, getting credentials and getting to work. Somalia's ambassador to the United Nations, Elmi Ahmed Duale, said Jamal was appointed about a week ago to the position of first secretary. Duale said Jamal will represent Somali interests on various U.N. committees. Jamal said Somalia is under siege by the radical group al-Shabaab and he'll make an "urgent appeal to save the country from al-Qaida." As many as 20 young men have left the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to possibly fight with al-Shabaab in Somalia. Jamal, who has led the St. Paul-based Somali Justice Advocacy Center since 2001, said he'll ask board members to appoint a new executive director.
— Associated Press