Mahamoud Ali Youssouf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf
|
|
|---|---|
| Macamuud Qali Yuusuf Maxamuud Cali Yuusuf محمود علي يوسف |
|
.jpg)
Youssouf in 2013
|
|
| 5th Chairperson of the African Union Commission | |
| Assumed office 13 March 2025 |
|
| Preceded by | Moussa Faki |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 22 May 2005 – 1 April 2025 |
|
| President | Ismaïl Omar Guelleh |
| Preceded by | Ali Abdi Farah |
| Succeeded by | Abdoulkader Houssein Omar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1965 Djibouti City, French Somaliland (now Djibouti) |
| Political party | People's Rally for Progress |
| Alma mater | Lumière University Lyon 2 |
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf (born on September 2, 1965) is a Djiboutian diplomat. He is currently the leader, or chairperson, of the African Union Commission. He has been the Foreign Minister for Djibouti since 2005, making him the longest-serving one.
In April 2024, his country, Djibouti, suggested him for the top job at the African Union Commission. He won the election on February 15, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after several rounds of voting.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf was born in Djibouti City on September 2, 1965. He completed his early schooling in Djibouti. He belongs to the Afar ethnic group.
Youssouf continued his studies in the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. He studied business management at the University of Liverpool. He earned his master's degree in management in 1990. He also wrote a special research paper at the Free University of Brussels.
Diplomatic Career
.jpg)
Youssouf began his career at Djibouti's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This ministry handles Djibouti's relationships with other countries. In the 1990s, he led the department that dealt with Arab countries. From 1997 to 2001, he served as Djibouti's Ambassador to Egypt.
On July 4, 2001, Youssouf became the Minister-Delegate for International Cooperation. This role involves working with other nations. Later, on May 22, 2005, he was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In 2008, he led the meeting of foreign ministers for the Arab League, a group of Arab countries.
Youssouf has played important roles in international talks, especially in the Horn of Africa region. He once explained that even though Djibouti is small, it has a very important port. He hoped Djibouti could grow its economy like Dubai, because of its great location.
Leading the African Union
Djibouti put forward Youssouf as their choice for the leader of the African Union Commission in April 2024. The African Union is a group of African countries that work together for peace and development. Youssouf said that making sure there is peace and safety was his main goal.
During a debate for the African Union leadership, Youssouf stated that African countries should solve their own security problems. He believed they should not always rely on other nations for help. He also pointed out that the African Union's peacekeeping forces were not used often enough. This was often due to problems with getting enough money. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a group of Muslim-majority countries, supported his election.
On February 15, 2025, Youssouf was chosen as the Chairperson of the African Union. He took over from Moussa Faki from Chad. The election happened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Countries that are members of the African Union voted in seven rounds. Youssouf won against other candidates, including Richard Randriamandra from Madagascar and Raila Odinga from Kenya. He received many messages of congratulations from leaders across Africa and from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Personal Life
Youssouf can speak several languages very well. These include Somali, Arabic, Afar, English, and French.
He is known to have a close working relationship with the President of Djibouti, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh.
See also
- List of current foreign ministers
