Youssouf, an experienced diplomat, has enjoyed a long and notable career within the Djibouti government. Prior to his election as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), he held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs for two decades, having been appointed to this role in 2005.
His academic qualifications are remarkable. He completed his business management studies at the University of Liverpool, earning his degree in 1988. Subsequently, he obtained a Master’s degree in management from the University of Laval in Canada in 1990.
Youssouf also broadened his knowledge through various training initiatives, including a Public Management course at the National School of Public Management in Canada in 1995. He improved his language capabilities by passing the Oxford Examination in English as a Foreign Language in 1989 and receiving a Certificate of Translation in English/French from Liverpool Business School in 1988. Moreover, he gained proficiency in Arabic by acquiring a certificate from the Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages in Tunisia in 1988.
Youssouf’s diplomatic career began in the 1990s when he served in Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leading the Arab Affairs Department. His ascent in diplomacy was swift, and in 1997, he was named Djibouti’s Ambassador to Egypt, a position he maintained until 2001. He then transitioned to become the Minister-Delegate for International Cooperation in 2001, and in 2005, he took on the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In 2008, Youssouf was appointed Chairman of the 129th Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League, further establishing his reputation as a key player in international diplomacy.
