Djibouti names new foreign minister as Mahamoud Ali Youssouf moves to AU

Before his appointment, Abdoulkader served as Djibouti’s Ambassador to Kuwait.
Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has appointed Abdoulkader Houssein Omar as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and Government Spokesperson, replacing Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, who vacated the position in April 2024 following his election as the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson.
Mahamoud has since secured the AUC position and relocated to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
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Before his appointment, Abdoulkader served as Djibouti’s Ambassador to Kuwait.
“The appointment of the new Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was announced in an official statement on Tuesday morning at the Palace of the Republic by the Secretary-General of the Government, Almis Mohamed Abdillahi,” the state broadcaster said in a social media post.
Mahamoud had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Government Spokesperson since 2005.
During his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of foreign policy, managed international relations, and facilitated agreements and cooperation with states and international organisations.
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