Brief Biography: Mohamed A Omar (PhD)

Mohamed A Omar (PhD)

Born on 15 May 1962.
(Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation Republic of Somaliland).

Mr. Omar has been appointed as a Somaliland's Foreign Minister on 28 July 2010. Since then, he has embarked on a pro-active and pragmatic foreign policy that has increased the country's international engagement. As a consequence, Somaliland relationship with IGAD countries, the Arab world and EU member states has significantly improved which resulted in more aid being allocated to Somaliland including some bilateral support for the first time, and the country has witnessed a better security and trade relationship with the neighboring states. There has also been an increased interest from foreign investors.

Before becoming a Foreign Minister, Mr. Omar had been the Foreign Affairs Spokesman of the KULMIYE Political party, where he took a lead in articulating a foreign policy strategy that provided a challenge to the one pursued by the government that was in power at that time, and which contributed to his party’ s win in the June 2010 elections.

Dr. Omar lived for 12 years in the Netherlands where he studied Psychology and worked in a number of state and non-state agencies. He then moved to the United Kingdom where he lived and worked for 11 years. In the UK, he graduated from the University of Nottingham with MA Degree in Urban Policy, and he then earned a PhD Degree in Political Studies from the University of Birmingham.

He has taught at the University of Brunel and then at the Institute of education of the University of London, in the UK. He also worked as Senior Education Policy Advisor for the Birmingham City Council in the UK.

Dr. Omar has a lot of publications on his name on a range of topics including democracy, current political affairs, and strategic relations. He has also presented papers at international and regional conference.

Source: Europal