Somali journalist Abdi Dahir appointed New York Times Africa correspondent

Somali journalist Abdi Latif Dahir has been appointed the New York Times East Africa correspondent, the U.S news company has said.

Dahir who has in the last three years been East Africa reporter for Quartz International will was unveiled Monday as the New York Times East Africa correspondent to be based in Nairobi.

“We are excited to announce our first new correspondent: Abdi Latif Dahir is joining The Times in Nairobi from Quartz Africa, where he has served for three years as East Africa reporter,” Times said in a statement.

New York Times International Assistant Managing Editor Michael Slackman described Dahir as ‘new talent and bringing in fresh insight’.

According to the Times, Dahir has covered China’s deepening reach into Africa, the political transitions in Ethiopia and Sudan, and the intersection of technology and geopolitics.

He has written about how companies and innovators are shaping industries, from agriculture to art. In between, he’s brought readers insightful stories about African culture, literature and food.

Abdi was born in Nairobi and grew up partly in Mogadishu, the Somali capital.