Djibouti has appointed Abdoulkader Houssein Omar as its new foreign minister, replacing Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, who stepped down after nearly two decades in the role to assume leadership of the African Union in February.
A presidential decree, issued Tuesday, confirmed Omar’s appointment. He previously served as Djibouti’s ambassador to Kuwait and Jordan.
“We are not talking about a ministerial reshuffle, this is the only change within the government,” Alexis Mohamed, a spokesman for the Djibouti presidency, told AFP.
The decree was signed by President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has led the country since 1999 and is expected to step down ahead of Djibouti’s 2026 presidential election.
Despite its small population of roughly one million, Djibouti holds significant strategic value. Situated along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, it sits along one of the world’s busiest trade routes and remains a rare hub of stability in an otherwise volatile region.
The country’s geopolitical importance is underscored by its role as a host for multiple foreign military bases, including those of France, the United States, and China.
