Samatar has extensive experience in political and civil rights research, particularly in Somalia. Prior to joining AVF, he was a Research Assistant at Human Rights Watch and he briefly worked for UNFPA. He is a Somali—English translator and speaks Somali, English and Kiswahili with native proficiency. He holds a Diploma in Communication Studies from Atlas College. He is passionate about human rights that lead to positive social change, particularly for conflict-affected communities.