Dr Mohamed Omar, the new Somaliland
Ambassador to Kenya/HANDOUTFormer Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Mohamed Omar has been appointed the country’s new Ambassador to Kenya.
His appointment comes barely a month after President Abdirahman Cirro visited Kenya, where he held meetings including with President William Ruto.
Omar takes over from Ambassador Mohamed Mohamoud.
The changes could be as a result of regime change in Somaliland following the November 2024 elections that saw President Bihi Ahmed lose to Abdirahman Cirro.
His appointment is seen as Somaliland stepping up efforts to further strengthen its relations between Nairobi and Hargeisa.
Omar also served as Minister of Trade and Investment.
His appointment also makes him the first former foreign minister to be appointed ambassador.
His arrival in Nairobi will likely help enhance collaboration, peacebuilding and prosperity in the region.
During his tenure as Foreign Minister, Omar spearheaded initiatives that strengthened Somaliland’s diplomacy and economic partnerships.
He is particularly credited with architecting the historic 2012 political dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia after over two decades of severed ties.
Over the last decade, Omar has served as a senior mediator at the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), focusing on resolving political conflicts in the Horn of Africa.
He has also served as a lecturer at Brunel University and the Institute of Education at the University of London and continues to blend scholarly insights with pragmatic diplomacy to promote international partnerships.
Omar's expertise has been instrumental in fostering peace and crafting durable solutions to complex regional challenges.
His illustrious career has seen him serve in diplomacy, politics, mediation, and academia, among other areas.
He holds a PhD in International Political Economy from the United Kingdom.
Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia more than 30 years ago, has long been pushing for recognition as a sovreign state, a move that has for decades been the genesis of strained relations between the two nations.
