Omar Daair

Omar joined the British Embassy in Washington DC in June 2011 as First Secretary covering Africa, the UN and conflict issues. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office first sent him to Africa in 2004 to study Arabic in Egypt, followed by a three year posting to Sudan. In Khartoum he focused on internal politics and the Darfur crisis, as well as acting as the Embassy Spokesman. Following two years as Head of the NATO Team in London, Omar returned to Sudan but this time as Head of the UK Office in Juba, South Sudan. During that time he worked on issues relating to the Referendum on southern independence and acted as an Observer during the vote. In his current role Omar covers all of Sub-Saharan Africa but recently most of his time has been spent on Somalia, Mali, Kenya and the DRC. His interest in Africa was first stimulated by his father, who was born in Tanzania. Omar a Masters degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He wants to visit as many African countries as he can but has only got to 12 so far.