Abdi Ismail Samatar (Somali: Cabdi Ismaaciil Samatar, Arabic: عبدي إسماعيل ساماتار) (born 1950) is a Somali scholar, writer and professor of geography.
Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, Samatar was a lecturer at the University of Iowa.[2] He later joined the University of Minnesota's faculty, serving as a professor of geography and chair of the institution's geography department.[4]
He has authored several books centered on democracy and development in the Horn of Africa and the developing world.[2] In 2000, his non-fiction work An African Miracle was a finalist for the year's Herskovits Prize.[5]
In Spring 2003, Samatar was the Chair of the Harmonization Committee of the Somali Charter: Somali Reconciliation – Independent Committee.[2]
On January 30 he was appointed to leader of the election commission to oversee the integrity of the Somalia presidential elections that were held 8 February 2017.[6]
Samatar has received various awards for his work, including:[2]
University of Minnesota President's Award for Service, 2018
University of Minnesota Somali Student Association Award, 2017
University of Minnesota Outstanding Community Service Award, 2004
Finalist, Herskovits Award of the African Studies Association for An African Miracle, 2000
Fulbright Scholar Award, 1993/4 and 1999
Design Achievement Award in recognition for substantial contribution to the field of Community and Regional Planning, Iowa State University, October 20, 2000
Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Teaching and Leadership in Community-University Collaboration, University of Minnesota, 1997
Collegiate Teaching Award, University of Iowa, 1989–90
^"Abdi Samatar : Geography : University of Minnesota." Department of Geography : University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota, September 4, 2009. Web. May 27, 2010. http://www.geog.umn.edu/people/profile.php?UID=samat001.
^Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies, Volumes 1–2. Macalester College, International Studies and Programming. 2001. p. iii.