Former Minister of Health Hawa Hassan Mohamed has been appointed the new Somalia ambassador to South Africa, Radio Dalsan reports.
Mohamed had served in the Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake cabinet between 27 January 2015 and June 2016 when she was replaced by Mohamed Haji Abdinur.
She takes over at a time when Somalia nationals and ethnic Somalis of other nationalities are increasingly becoming a target of xenophobic attacks.
Last week at least four foreign traders were killed as local South Africans staged violent protests in Soweto over alleged sale of “fake” and “contraband” goods by Pakistani, Ethiopian and Somali businessmen.