Omar Daair 2025 Speaker

Director for East, Central and Southern Africa

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Biography

Omar Daair joined the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2002 and is currently its Africa Director. Prior to assuming this role, he was the British High Commissioner to Rwanda and non-resident Ambassador to Burundi.

Omar’s career has largely focused on Africa, including roles as Private Secretary to the Minister for Africa, Deputy Head of East and West Africa Department, and overseas postings to Sudan and South Sudan. His other roles covered Europe, NATO, and national security issues, as well as a serving in Washington DC.

Omar is a graduate of the London School of Economics and of SOAS, University of London. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University.

In 2023, Omar was awarded an OBE by His Majesty The King for services to British foreign policy and international development.