Mahmoud Ali Youssouf is chair of the African Union Commission. A veteran diplomat, he previously served for many years as Djibouti’s minister of foreign affairs, where he played a central role in regional diplomacy, peace and security efforts, and multilateral engagement. As AUC chair, he has prioritized institutional reform, African sovereignty, and stronger continental coordination. His leadership agenda includes elevating health security financing and reinforcing the role of Africa CDC as a cornerstone of Africa’s public health architecture.