ADDIS ABABA — In a year when the global economy is searching for new engines of growth, H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf is betting on Africa. As Chairperson of the African Union Commission, he has made it his mission to ensure the continent is no longer seen solely through the lens of aid and humanitarian need, but as a central player in shaping the world’s economic future.
A Career Forged in Diplomacy
Youssouf’s path to the helm of the African Union Commission was shaped by more than three decades of public service. Born in Djibouti City in 1965, he built his career in the foreign service, eventually serving nearly 20 years as Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Known for his fluency in Somali, Arabic, Afar, English, and French, he has a reputation for bridging political divides and uniting disparate voices around a common agenda.
In his tenure at the African Union Commission, Youssouf has prioritized peace and stability, deepened commitments to intra-African trade, and pressed for reforms to strengthen the AU’s ability to act independently. Those who have worked with him say his style is pragmatic, but his vision is unapologetically ambitious: Africa as a leader, not a follower, in the global economy.
A Platform for Africa’s Next Chapter
That vision will be on full display this September in New York at Unstoppable Africa 2025, the flagship convening of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), co-hosted by the African Union Commission and the UN Global Compact. The summit’s ambition is clear: position Africa as the most important driver of global business growth, with a market potential exceeding $3 trillion.
The partnership with the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, is strategic. It places Africa’s private-sector opportunities on the same stage as global business leaders, aligning them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that Africa’s economic rise is built on a foundation of responsible, inclusive growth.
GABI, launched in 2022, has distinguished itself from other Africa-focused gatherings by putting the private sector at the center of both the conversation and the solutions. Smaller convenings throughout the year will feed into its annual New York gathering, creating a sustained drumbeat of investment and partnership opportunities.
Why This Moment Matters
For Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the stakes could not be higher. “It is clear we cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or the African Union’s Agenda 2063 without responsible business leadership and strong multi-stakeholder partnerships,” he has said.
The summit will not only highlight the sectors primed for investment—energy, infrastructure, technology, and the green economy—but will also work to ensure that commitments translate into measurable results.
Adding to its weight, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will headline the event, signaling its importance on the international stage. His presence sends a powerful message: Africa’s trajectory will shape the world’s future.
A Call to Action
As global leaders converge on New York for Unstoppable Africa 2025, Youssouf is inviting governments, investors, and changemakers to join him in redefining Africa’s role in the global economy. For him, this is not just a conference—it is a turning point.
“When Africa thrives,” Mahamoud Ali Youssouf says, “the world prospers.”
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