President Ismail Omar Guelleh announced Tuesday the appointment of veteran diplomat Abdoulkader Houssein Omar as Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as the Government Spokesperson. Mr. Omar steps into this vital role following the departure of his predecessor, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, who was elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission in February.
Before this significant appointment, Mr. Omar served as Djibouti’s Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, culminating nearly two decades of dedicated diplomatic service. His career in foreign affairs began in 2007 when he was appointed Deputy Director of the Bilateral Relations Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, a position he held until December 2015. He then served as Senior Counselor at the Embassy of Djibouti in Kenya from February 2015 to June 2021.
Ambassador Omar, brings a wealth of experience and diverse expertise to his new role. He holds a degree in Modern French Literature with a specialization in Arabic Civilization from the University of Montpellier 3 in France and shares his predecessor’s multilingual proficiency, being fluent in French, Arabic, and English. His foundation in education is noteworthy; he served the Ministry of National Education as a French Language Teacher, Coordinator at the National Education Training Center, and ultimately as Deputy Director of Ambouli High School, showcasing his early leadership abilities.
President Guelleh’s selection underscores Ambassador Omar’s extensive network and engagement beyond core diplomatic functions. He holds several notable affiliations, including membership on the Board of Directors of Radio Television of Djibouti and the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) at the U.S. National Defense University. Additionally, he has served as the Representative of the African Bureau for Development and Cooperation and the National Coordinator for the Pan-African e-Network Project. His civic engagement includes roles such as Secretary General of the Djiboutian Tennis Federation, the Popular Savings and Credit Fund, and the NGO APEF, as well as service on the editorial board of the Nation newspaper.
Further enhancing his credentials is a strong commitment to professional development, demonstrated by extensive training in key international affairs domains. Ambassador Omar has undertaken specialized coursework in Diplomacy and International Relations (Peking University), Security Resource Management (U.S. National Defense University), Disarmament (Hague Code of Conduct, Paris), Development of Small States, Strengthening Governance for Peacebuilding, and Countering Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.
Combining deep roots in Djibouti’s public service with broad international experience and a commitment to ongoing learning, Ambassador Abdoulkader Houssein Omar assumes leadership of Djibouti’s foreign policy at a critical juncture, regarded as a respected and well-prepared figure for the challenges ahead.