Isse hails from the Reer Iidle sub-division of the Ciidagale Garhajis subclan of the wider Isaaq.

On 18 October 2011, Isse and other Transitional Federal Government (TFG) officials hosted a Kenyan delegation in Mogadishu to discuss security issues cooperation against Al-Shabaab as part of the ongoing coordinated Operation Linda Nchi.

[2] Isse and Kenya's Minister of Defence Mohamed Yusuf Haji then signed an agreement to collaborate against the insurgent group.

[3] In early June 2012, Kenyan forces were formally integrated into AMISOM.

[4] On 4 November 2012, Isse's term as Defence Minister of Somalia ended, as new Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon reassigned Haji-Faqi to the portfolio.