Djibouti’s 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 after being elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Abdoulkader Houssein Omar started his career as a teacher, instructing students in French language from 1996 to 2002.

He pursued higher education at the University of Montpellier 3 in France, specializing in Modern French Literature and Arab Civilization. He is fluent in French, Arabic, and English.

He has served in various capacities within the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs of Djibouti. His roles within the Foreign Ministry include Senior Counselor at Djibouti’s Embassy in Kenya from 2015 to 2021, and Deputy Director of the Bilateral Relations Department from 2007 to 2015.

In the Ministry of Education, his roles included Deputy Principal of Ambouli High School from 2004 to 2007, and French language teacher from 1996 to 2002.

Before becoming Minister, Abdoulkader served as Djibouti’s Ambassador to Kuwait, where he led the Djiboutian delegation to the 50th Arab Labor Organization Conference held in Baghdad in 2024.

His extensive experience and skills have made him a key figure in Djibouti’s foreign policy and diplomacy.

Yesterday’s classroom teacher is today the minister representing his nation on international platforms.