Skip to main content

Experts on countries of origin by country

Abbas, Dr. Ahmed

Dr. Ahmed is often called upon to provide advisory services for international organizations, governments, and corporations navigating legal issues in the Middle East. His reputation for accuracy, sensitivity, and integrity is well-established, and he remains a trusted voice in both the legal and academic communities.

Occupation: Dr. Ahmed Abbas is a trusted expert in Middle Eastern law, politics,
and culture, with two decades of experience providing expert witness
testimony, consulting, and analysis for governments, multinational
corporations, international NGOs, and legal teams. With a deep
understanding of the region's complex legal systems and sociopolitical structures, Dr. Al-Fahad has earned a reputation for his
reliable, nuanced, and clear assessments in cases involving
geopolitical conflicts, family law, and cross-border legal disputes.
His career has spanned a wide array of sectors, including international
arbitration, human rights, political risk analysis, and Islamic
jurisprudence. Known for his meticulous approach to research and an
ability to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences, Dr. Ahmed
has successfully assisted clients in navigating both the legal and
cultural intricacies of the Middle East. Fluent in Arabic and English,
he’s also worked extensively across North Africa, the Levant, and the
Gulf region, advising clients on both regional affairs and international
litigation.
Dr. Ahmed career is defined by his strong professional ethics,
empathetic understanding of the region's challenges, and a
commitment to helping clients achieve fair and informed outcomes.
Countries of expertise: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Afewerki, Dr Daniel

Country Witness Expert on East Africa, including Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda.

► Get a Sample Report, Expert CV, and Free Consultation.
► Responds to inquiries within 1 hour and deliver reports within 1 week.
► Adheres to the minimum rate that meets Legal Aid requirements.

Expert at the international agency The Human Rights:
We provide expert witness reports for asylum cases worldwide, covering human rights violations, political persecution, and systemic oppression. Our reports are trusted by lawyers, courts, and immigration authorities in the UK, USA, Canada, and the EU.

Winner of the Expert Witness Awards in the category of Best Immigration, Asylum & Refugee Expert Witness 2024

Occupation: Country Witness Expert on East Africa

Human Rights Specialist

Academic Researcher

Legal Consultant on Refugee and Asylum Law
Countries of expertise: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda

Aguilar, Professor M.I.

Expertise on religion and politics in a number of African, Asian and Latin American countries - and in a number of languages. Current research includes China (Tibet), Chile, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Argentina, DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe; Libya and Syria

Occupation: Chair in Religion and Politics & Director, Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CSRP), University of St. Andrews
Countries of expertise: Brazil, Burundi, China, Colombia, Cote d`Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Ahmed, Omer

Omer is a Somali speaking solicitor (presently non-practicing), with expertise on all aspects of irregular migration from Africa and Yemen. He is based in the region with offices in the UK, and with extensive experience of delivering clear concise and cogent subject matter expertise to UK courts.

Occupation: Lawyer
Countries of expertise: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen

Bangura, Ibrahim

Ibrahim Bangura has worked extensively in the fields of Transitional Justice, Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants, Security Sector Reform, Sustainable Livelihoods, Gender and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History and a Master’s degree in Gender Studies from University of Sierra Leone; another Master’s degree in International Development Studies from the University of Amsterdam; and a Doctorate degree in Economics from the Leipzig Graduate School of Management in Germany.

He currently lectures at the Peace and Conflict Studies Programme, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and he is also a senior partner at Transition International, a consultancy firm based in the Netherlands.

Occupation: Consultant
Countries of expertise: Belgium, Central African Republic, Cote d`Ivoire, Cyprus, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Bekalo (MEd, PhD), Dr Samuel Ayele

Freelance Horn of Africa advisor/consultant.  Produced over 100 country reports (on Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, The Sudan) for various organisations and legal firms.

Occupation: Freelance Horn of Africa Countries Advisor / Consultant
Countries of expertise: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, United Kingdom

Cameron, Dr Hazel

Dr Hazel CameronExperienced expert witness and author of country reports for courts and tribunals nationally and internationally.Zimbabwe, Uganda, South Africa, BotswanaArbitrary Arrest And Detention; Child Trafficking; Country Case Law; Criminal Justice System; Criminal Justice System; Domestic Violence, Forced Marriage; Economy; Education; Employment; Ethnic Groups; Food Security Identification On Return; Gender Based Violence; Gender Based Violence; Gross Violations Of Human Rights Perpetrated By State Security Forces; Health Care; Health Insurance; Housing; Human Trafficking; Internal Relocation; LGBTIQ+; Mental Health Services; Opposition Politics And Election Violence; Organ Trafficking; Policing; Political Violence; Prison Conditions; Rape; Risks Of Re-Trafficking; Social Groups; State Sponsored Violence; Sufficiency Of Protection; Torture And Sexual Violence; Trafficking For Ransom; Trafficking Routes; Witness Protection; Risks On Return.RwandaLGBTIQ+; Human Trafficking; Organ Trafficking; Risks of Re-Trafficking; Sufficiency of Protection; Trafficking for Ransom; Trafficking Routes.Africa Human Trafficking; Organ Trafficking; Risks of Re-Trafficking; Sufficiency of Protection; Trafficking for Ransom; Trafficking Routes.
Occupation: Academic Consultant
Countries of expertise: Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo (Republic of), Cote d`Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Carruth, Lauren

Lauren Carruth is an Assistant Professor at the School of International Service at American University who provides testimony regularly on country conditions in the Horn of Africa. She is a medical anthropologist, gender specialist, and migration specialist with expertise in Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Haiti.

Occupation: Associate Professor, School of International Service, American
University
Countries of expertise: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia

Chaudhary, Dr. Nishu

The Expert is a Sub-Saharan Africa specialist with extensive experience in Country Operations Management, Resource Mobilization, Business Development, Communications and Advocacy across multiple countries with leading international NGOs.

Occupation: The Expert is a Sub-Saharan Africa specialist with extensive experience in Country Operations Management, Resource Mobilization, Business Development, Communications and Advocacy across multiple countries with leading international NGOs. She holds a Ph.D. in Grief Counseling, American International Theism University, Florida, The United States (2020- 2023).
Countries of expertise: Djibouti, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Libya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Elnoor, Abubakr

Abubakr Elnoor is an expert in law, conflict analysis, linguistics, and language education, with extensive academic and professional experience in both Sudan and the United States.

He was born in Darfur, Sudan, and holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Khartoum. He passed the Sudanese Bar Exam and became a certified attorney, later serving as a lecturer at the University of Dongola.

Dr. Elnoor has over a decade of experience in language instruction and cultural training. He has served in multiple roles at the Defense Language Institute, including Assistant Professor of Arabic, Academic Specialist, and Acting Site Director. In these roles, he taught Arabic language and culture, with a focus on honor-based disputes, ethnic and sectarian tensions, and the cultural drivers of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. He also led teams of language and cultural experts, developed curriculum on East African societies, and trained U.S. military personnel in cultural awareness and mediation.

He earned his Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University, where he also served as a Teaching Assistant and Community Resolution Specialist. He holds several… Read more

Occupation: Language and COI Expert
Countries of expertise: Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan

Gabbay, Shaul

Dr. Shaul Gabbay completed a BA at Bar Ilan University and an MA at Tel-Aviv University. In 1991 he received a Presidential Fellowship from the U.S. to continue his studies. In 1995 he completed the PhD program at Columbia University in New York and received an invitation from the University of Chicago for a Post Doctoral program. In 1998 Dr. Gabbay returned to Israel to join the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Professor Gabbay joined the University of Denver as the Director of the Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies in 2001- 2010.  He continued his research at DU as a Senior Scholar until 2015 when he was appointed Director of the Global Research Institute.

His areas of expertise include Middle East cultures and societal norms,   Middle East conflicts, and human rights issues existing in Muslim societies.  He is regularly cited and acts as a commentator in national and international media such as the Associated Press, CBS, NBC, FOX and MSNBC.

Occupation: Muslim World Expert
Countries of expertise: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Gaza Strip, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Yemen

Hoehne, Markus

Lecturer at the Institute for Anthropology, University of Leipzig. Conducted in total three years of field research in northern Somalia. Published author and experienced in expert reports on Somalia/Norther Somalia, in particular, northern Somali clans (Isaaq, Darood/Harti, Dir), minorities in (southern) Somalia such as Midgan, Asharaf and Sheikhaal, and issues of health care and mental health.

Occupation: Lecturer, Institute for Anthropology, University of Leipzig, Germany
Countries of expertise: Somalia

Iwilade, Dr Akin

Lecturer in African Studies at the University of Edinburgh with extensive experience researching and writing about violent social groups and discrimination in selected African countries.  

Occupation: Lecturer in African Studies, University of Edinburgh; Editorial Board Member of Critical African Studies, Review of African Political Economy and Canadian Journal of African Studies; Book Reviews Editor African Affairs
Countries of expertise: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Smith Rotabi-Caseres, Karen

Karen S. Rotabi-Caseres is Professor of Social Work at California State University- Monterey Bay. She has extensive international experience, with an emphasis on Guatemala, El Salvador and Somalia. Her practice in these countries is oriented to child protection as well as violence against women. She has worked as an expert witness, mainly for Guatemala, but recent work in Somalia has expanded her area of expertise.  She has an extensive publication history, with an orientation to human rights.

Occupation: Professor
Countries of expertise: El Salvador, Guatemala, Somalia

Zagud, Dr. Abduslam

Dr Zagud holds an intensive research experience on international public law, international human rights law, international relations and immigration law. 

Dr Zagud takes instructions on all Arab cases from: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

He maintains his expertise in all legal matters related to Arab nationals including cases pertaining to asylum, immigration, family and crime. Dr Zagud writes expert reports on all legal matters as well as nationality matters, languages, blood feuds, honour killing, domestic violence, risk of return and Islamic law.

His expertise centres around the people with whom he shares cultural understanding, languages, religious beliefs, and numerous national characteristics.

 

Cases undertaken

The Expert has experience in providing Country of Origin reports and analyses, he also provides documents authentication reports on various legal proceedings for clients in the UK and internationally. he is mostly instructed in following cases:

Arab legal and judicial systems. Socio-culture norms. Tribal dynamic. Blood Feuds Internal… Read more
Occupation: Expert with legal and interpreting/translation expertise attained in the United Kingdom
Countries of expertise: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen