Irfaan Ali facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mohamed Irfaan Ali
|
|
|---|---|
Ali in 2023
|
|
| 10th President of Guyana | |
| Assumed office 2 August 2020 |
|
| Vice President | Bharrat Jagdeo |
| Prime Minister (also First Vice President) | Mark Phillips |
| Preceded by | David A. Granger |
| Minister of Housing and Water | |
| In office 7 January 2009 – 20 May 2015 |
|
| President | Bharrat Jagdeo Donald Ramotar |
| Prime Minister | Sam Hinds |
| Preceded by | Harrinarine Nawbatt |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Bulkaan |
| Chairman of the Caribbean Community | |
| In office 1 January 2024 – 30 June 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Roosevelt Skerrit |
| Succeeded by | Dickon Mitchell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 April 1980 Leonora, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana |
| Political party | People's Progressive Party/Civic |
| Spouse |
Arya Ali
(m. 2017) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | St. Stanislaus College |
| Alma mater |
|
| Awards | Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (2023) |
Mohamed Irfaan Ali was born on 25 April 1980. He is a politician from Guyana. Since 2020, he has been the tenth and current President of Guyana. He belongs to the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). Before becoming president, he was the Minister of Housing and Water from 2009 to 2015. He is the first Muslim to serve as President of Guyana. He is also the second Muslim head of state in the Americas, after Noor Hassanali of Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Ali was a member of parliament (MP) and a cabinet minister until 2015. In 2020, he became the presidential candidate for his party. He won the general election in March 2020. He officially became Guyana's tenth president on 2 August 2020. This happened after some time because of legal discussions about the election results. He was re-elected for a second term as president in the general election held on 1 September 2025.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mohamed Irfaan Ali was born on 25 April 1980. His parents, Bibi Shariman Neshaw and Mohamed Osman Ali, were both teachers. He grew up in Leonora, a village in Guyana. He also spent part of his childhood on Leguan.
His family has roots in India. His ancestors came to British Guiana in 1894. They traveled on a ship called the Rhine.
Mr. Ali attended Leonora Nursery and Primary schools. He also went to Cornelia Ida Primary. He finished his high school education at St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown.
He studied at several universities. He earned a doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the West Indies. He also has master's degrees from the National Institute of Labour Economics and Anglia Ruskin University. He earned a law degree from the University of Salford. He also has a bachelor's degree from the University of Sunderland. In 2023, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University gave him an honorary doctorate.
Early Career
Before becoming a politician, Mr. Ali worked in finance and planning. He was a project manager for the Caribbean Development Bank. He also worked as a senior planner for the government.
Early Political Career
Mr. Ali became a member of the National Assembly in Guyana in 2006. This is like being a representative in parliament. He later became a minister. He was the Minister of Housing and Water. He also served as the Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce.
Sometimes, when the President or Prime Minister was away, Mr. Ali would take on their duties. In 2015, his party became the opposition. During this time, he led important committees in the parliament.
Presidency
2020 Presidential Campaign
In 2020, Irfaan Ali became the presidential candidate for the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). He ran in the general elections held on 2 March 2020.
During his campaign, Mr. Ali focused on improving Guyana's economy. He promised to create 50,000 new jobs over five years. He also talked about making sure Guyana's new oil industry was managed openly and fairly. He wanted to create a special fund for oil money. This fund would help protect the money from political influence.
Foreign Policy
Working with the United States
.jpg)
In September 2020, President Ali met with the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. They announced that Guyana and the United States would work together. They planned to start joint patrols at sea. These patrols would help stop illegal activities near Guyana's border. This agreement also aimed to improve security in Guyana's waters.
Re-election in 2025
President Ali was re-elected for his second term. This happened in the general election on 1 September 2025.
Awards and Honours
President Ali has received several important awards:
- Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (from India): In 2023, the Government of India gave him this award. It recognized his work in politics and for his achievements.
- Order of Freedom of Barbados (from Barbados): Also in 2023, the Government of Barbados honored him with this award. It was for his efforts to improve cooperation and partnerships in the Caribbean region. This included working on food security and helping people in Barbados and the wider area.
See also
In Spanish: Irfaan Ali para niños
- Islam in Guyana
