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Mohamed Abdirizak joined NDI as a resident country director for Somalia in 2010. Mr. Abdirizak has worked vigorously to promote unity and stability in Somalia since 2007. Prior to joining NDI, he served as a political advisor to the special representative of the secretary general at U.N. Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).
From 2007 - 2008 Mr. Abdirizak served as an advisor and chief of staff to the president of Somalia. He played an active role in the Djibouti peace process where an agreement was signed in August 2008. Since then he has been involved in the international initiatives to re-establish the government and promote peace and security in Somalia. He has shown great leadership in facilitating discussions and negotiations of the Joint Security Committee and the High Level Committee to promote peace and security for Somalia.
Mr. Abdirizak is highly regarded among his Somali colleagues as well as the diplomatic community working on Somalia for his leadership and ability to forge ties between various political and regional actors and opposition members in the country and in the diaspora.
Prior to working with the Transitional Federal Government and UNPOS, Mr. Abdirizak worked with private sector firms in the U.S. and with international organizations including the U.N. Development Programme in Somalia and the World Bank.
Mohamed Abdirizak received his B.S. in agriculture from N.W.F.P Agricultural University in Pakistan. He earned a master’s degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Mr. Abdirizak is married and is the father of two children. He is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya.
