Yusuf was born in 1912 in the town of Hobyo (Obbia), situated in the north-central Mudug province of Somalia.

[4] Additionally, Yusuf was also a relative of the Somali-Italian actor and musician Jonis Bashir, and the Somali Politician and businessman Haji Mohamed Yasin Ismail.

[5] In an administrative capacity, Yusuf initially worked in the parliament of the Trust Territory of Somaliland as an MP (Deputato) for the northeastern town of Bosaso.

He was also part of a six-member Somali Youth League delegation who made an appeal for early independence before the Four-Power Commission.

[2] From mid-July 1960 to mid-1966, Yusuf was elected a Vice-President of the Somali National Assembly, where he worked alongside Ahmed Gumanc.