Taking over as president and CEO of the International Crisis Group placed Comfort Ero in one of the most high-pressure roles globally. Shortly after she started, the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict presented a massive challenge that tested the organization’s capabilities. Ero is notable for being the first Black woman and only the second woman to lead the New York-based institution since it was founded in 1995.
Born in England to Nigerian parents, Ero maintains strong ties to Nigeria. Her parents were displaced by the Nigerian Civil War, a reality that shaped her perspective on conflict early on. She spent much of her youth in Lagos, which she credits for grounding her in Nigerian values and culture. She later completed her education in Britain, eventually earning a PhD from the London School of Economics.
Ero’s career path is marked by extensive field experience, including working as a policy adviser for UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia. She joined the International Crisis Group in 2011 to lead their Africa program, having analyzed conflict zones across the Balkans, the Pacific, and Africa. Though she once hoped to be an interior designer, the global political shifts of the Cold War drew her toward international relations.
Leading the organization during a period of rising global tension, Ero views her past work in African conflict resolution as a foundation for her current duties. She maintains that preventing war is a moral duty, emphasizing that civilians suffer most during times of instability. While she recognizes the significance of being the first Black woman in this role, she views the position as both a personal milestone and a duty to foster positive change.
