sˈæmæɾɚ wʌzɐ mˈɛmbɚɹ ʌvðɪ ɛɡzˈɛkjuːtˌɪv kəmˈɪɾi ʌvðə səmˈɑːli stˈʌdiz ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən sˈɪns nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn, ænd sˈɜːvd æz ɐ mˈænɪdʒɪŋ ˈɛdɪɾɚɹ ʌvðə hˈɔːɹn ʌv ˈæfɹɪkə dʒˈɜːnəl.
Samatar was a member of the executive committee of the Somali Studies International Association since 1979, and served as a managing editor of the Horn of Africa journal.