Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa Please submit all media inquiries to media@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role As the Senior Analyst for Eastern Africa, Omar conducts field research, provides written analysis, proposes policy recommendations and engages in advocacy efforts. Professional background Omar has previously worked as a senior researcher focusing on the Horn of Africa for the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Addis Ababa, and as an international consultant covering Boko Haram and the Lake Chad Basin. Prior to that, he obtained his Master’s degree from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso. Languages English (native) French (conversant) Urdu (conversant) Select Publications Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland: the case of Sool and Sanaag, ISS Africa, December 2019 Competition, cooperation and security in the Red Sea, ISS Africa, September 2019 In The News 1 Nov 2022 Things [in Somalia] are likely to get worse before they get better as both the government and al Shabaab are locked into war mode right now. Irish Times Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa 17 May 2022 If we look back at Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud's previous tenure [in Somalia], he seemed more open to consultation and compromise than the recent administration. DW Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa 15 Apr 2022 The swearing-in of MPs [in Somalia] is certainly a major step whose significance goes beyond symbolism. Irish Times Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa 12 Jan 2022 As long as the election cycle and current tensions [in Somalia] drag on, the attention of the political elite will be more inwardly focused, while other priorities lag be... The New York Times Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa 27 Dec 2021 When the political elite [in Somalia] are focused on each other, attention turns away from the battle against al-Shabab. The Washington Post Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa 22 Jul 2021 Al Shabaab is fully embedded in Somali society, especially in areas under their control, where local populations have little choice but to engage the group. VICE News Omar Mahmood Senior Analyst, Eastern Africa Latest Updates Podcast / Africa 11 January 2023 Somalia's Offensive Against Al-Shabaab Podcast / Africa 30 June 2022 A Strategy for Exploring Talks with Al-Shabaab in Somalia Q&A / Africa 31 May 2022 A Welcome Chance for a Reset in Somalia Podcast / Africa 27 May 2022 New President in Somalia, New Opportunity for Reconciliation Podcast / Africa 02 December 2021 The Search for an African Union Exit Strategy from Somalia Commentary / Jihad in Modern Conflict 27 October 2021 How Islamist Militants Elsewhere View the Taliban’s Victory in Afghanistan Load more