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Mahmoud Ali Youssouf
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf is a Djiboutian diplomat and public official who has served as Chairperson of the African Union Commission since March 2025. Previously Djibouti's long-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, he was elected to lead the Commission in February 2025.
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About Mahmoud Ali Youssouf
Profile information current to .
Djibouti · Diplomat, Public official
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- Diplomat
- Public official
At a glance
- He assumed office as Chairperson of the African Union Commission on March 13, 2025, after being elected the previous month.
- Before joining the Commission, he served as Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, a position the African Union says he had held since 2005.
- His earlier diplomatic service included postings as Djibouti's ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the League of Arab States.
- He holds a Master's in Management from Université Laval in Canada.
Leadership of the African Union Commission
Youssouf was elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission on February 15, 2025, at the African Union's 38th Ordinary Session, standing as the Eastern Region candidate from Djibouti. He assumed office at the Commission's leadership handover on March 13, 2025. The chairperson is elected for a four-year term renewable once and serves as the Commission's chief executive officer, legal representative, and chief accounting officer.
Djiboutian government service
Before taking office at the African Union Commission, Youssouf served as Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and as government spokesperson. The African Union says he had held the foreign-minister portfolio since 2005. From 2001 to 2005, he served as Minister Delegate for International Cooperation at Djibouti's foreign ministry.
Diplomatic and multilateral background
From 1997 to 2001, Youssouf served as Djibouti's ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the League of Arab States. His African Union biography also records non-resident ambassadorial responsibilities for Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, as well as service as Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of both the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Education
Youssouf holds a Master's in Management from Université Laval in Canada. His African Union candidacy CV records that he obtained the degree in 1990.
Timeline
- Obtained a Master's in Management from Université Laval, according to his African Union candidacy CV.
- Began service as Djibouti's ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the League of Arab States.
- Began service as Minister Delegate for International Cooperation at Djibouti's foreign ministry.
- Began service as Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
- Elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission at the African Union's 38th Ordinary Session as the Eastern Region candidate from Djibouti.
- Assumed office as Chairperson of the African Union Commission following the leadership handover.
Additional verified details
Current context
- The African Union's current-chairperson page identifies Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The African Union page displayed entries through August 17, 2026 when accessed; this is the basis for the current-status assessment.
Biographical facts
- Mahmoud Ali Youssouf is a Djiboutian diplomat and public official.
- Before taking the African Union Commission post, he served as Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and as government spokesperson. The African Union states that he had held the ministerial role since 2005.
- He served as Djibouti's Minister Delegate for International Cooperation from 2001 to 2005.
- From 1997 to 2001, he served as Djibouti's ambassador to Egypt and permanent representative to the League of Arab States. The African Union biography also identifies non-resident ambassadorial responsibilities for Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey during that period.
- The African Union biography states that he has served as Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of both the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
- He holds a Master's in Management from Université Laval in Canada; his African Union candidacy CV records the degree as obtained in 1990.
- The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is elected for a four-year term renewable once and serves as the Commission's chief executive officer, legal representative, and chief accounting officer.
Connections
Affiliations
Affiliations associated with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
- African Union Commission Chairperson 2025-03-13–present
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