 Nicknamed "Haaji Bakiin" (Xaaji Bakiin), Ismail hails from the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia.He was the Chairman of the northeastern Bari province under the incumbency of former Puntland President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.In 2007, Ismail was appointed Puntland's Deputy Minister of Interior under regional President Mohamud Muse Hersi.