Aidan O'Hara
Aidan O'Hara | |
|---|---|
| European Union Ambassador to Sudan | |
| Assumed office 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Robert van den Dool |
| Irish Ambassador to Djibouti | |
| In office 2016–2020 | |
| Preceded by | Adam Kułach |
| Irish Ambassador to Ethiopia | |
| In office 2012–2016 | |
| Succeeded by | Sonja Hyland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 June 1964 [1] Dublin, Ireland |
Aidan O'Hara (born June 11, 1964) is an Irish diplomat currently serving as European Union Ambassador to Sudan.[2] O'Hara was the Irish ambassador to Ethiopia from 2012 to 2016. In 2022 he assumed control as EU Ambassador to Sudan.[3] He presented his credentials on 12 April 2022 to the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.[4]
Biography
[edit]O'Hara was born on 11 June 1964 in Dublin, Ireland.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in legal science from Trinity College Dublin and later received a barrister at law degree from Kings Inns.[5]
From 2012 to 2016 he was the Irish ambassador to Ethiopia.[5] During his time as ambassador to Ethiopia, he helped facilitate money for the assistance of Ethiopian migrants returning from Saudi Arabia.[6] He was replaced by Sonja Hyland in this post, who also took on the missions of Djibouti, South Sudan, and the African Union.[7] After his time as ambassador, he became Director of Policy Planning at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Director of the European Division.[5] From 2019 to 2022 he was the Ambassador of the European Union to Djibouti and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.[5] He announced during his term that he wanted to strengthen cooperation projects between the EU and Djibouti like those on child development and equality for women in the country.[8]
Since 2022 he has been the European Union's Ambassador to Sudan.[3] On 17 April 2023, he was reportedly assaulted at his home in Khartoum amid the ongoing civil conflict and battle over the city.[9] He later stated that the group that attacked him were looking for cash and mobile phones and that he was not injured, although he was attacked again during his subsequent evacuation through a Sudanese airbase that left a member of his convoy hurt.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ambassador's CV - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". www.dfa.ie. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Munro, Craig (17 April 2023). "EU ambassador in Sudan assaulted in his home as violence escalates". Metro. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Ambassador O'Hara - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". dfa.ie. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "EU Ambassador presents his credentials to Sudan | EEAS". www.eeas.europa.eu. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Welcome Message from the Ambassador | EEAS". www.eeas.europa.eu. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Ireland donates €100,000 to support Ethiopian returnees from KSA". ethiopia.iom.int. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Government approves appointment of several Ambassadors". The Irish Times. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "MFF/UE : Le nouvel ambassadeur de l'UE reçu en audience par Moumina Houmed Hassan". La Nation. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "Sudan fighting: EU ambassador assaulted in Khartoum home". BBC News. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Connelly, Tony (12 May 2023). "Irish diplomat recalls being held at gunpoint in Sudan". RTE. Retrieved 13 April 2025.