Mahamoud Ali Youssouf
| Date of Birth | September 2, 1965 |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Biography
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, is the newly elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister won the position after beating Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar on February 15, 2025.
He is a seasoned diplomat with considerable influence across Africa and a portfolio with notable accomplishments.
Mahamoud Early Life and Education
Mahamoud hails from Djibouti city where he was born. He got his basic education in Djibouti and later furthered his studies in linguistics, business, and management in Lyon, France, Liverpool, United Kingdom, and Laval, France. Additionally, he wrote his thesis at the Free University of Brussels in the 1990s.
Youssouf Career Life
He served as the head of Arab Affairs between 1992 and 1997 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Djibouti, a career that offered him a diplomatic footing in the continent and the world at large.
In 1997, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf was appointed Djibouti’s Ambassador to Egypt, a role he held until 2001 when he returned to Djibouti and was named Minister Delegate for International Cooperation.
Foreign Policy Leadership
Under the leadership of Ali, Djibouti has played a critical role in regional and international diplomacy, especially in the Horn of Africa. He has been involved in significant diplomatic negotiations and efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
Mahamoud Language Proficiency
Youssouf is multilingual, which has been an asset in his diplomatic work and campaigns for the AUC top seat. In the high stakes politics preceding the AUC polls, Mahamoud was at vantage position to win support of Francophone and Arabic countries in Africa.
Political Career
He is an independent politician, and he is known for his optimism about Djibouti’s future. He has held the position of Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2005.
In April 2024, he was nominated by Djibouti to become the Chairperson of the African Union Commission where he was endorsed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), among other blocks.
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