Omar served as chief of Sudan's military intelligence under Omar al-Bashir until September 2018, when he was replaced by Mustafa Mohamed Mustafa. After al-Bashir was deposed, Omar became a member of the Transitional Military Council in May 2019, succeeding Mustafa Mohamed Musfata, and retaking the post of military intelligence chief. Omar was appointed Defence Minister in September 2019 by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Omar died on 25 March 2020, while attending peace talks in Juba, South Sudan.