He worked for several aid and political organizations in Somalia after spending some time in the region during his leave from the Canadian military in 1987.
[3] Bryden joined the Canadian Forces Reserve[4] and became interested in African aid programs after visiting the region during a military leave in 1987.
He led the War-torn Societies Project (WSP) from 1996 to 2003[4] and in the two years following acted as the Horn of Africa Director for the International Crisis Group (ICG).
[8] This included reports that the United States violated the embargo when making anti-terrorist missile strikes, and an incident where two journalists were detained under suspicions of being mercenaries.
[8] Bryden accused then Puntland President Abdirahman Farole and other government officials of being on the payroll of pirate gangs.