Youssuf meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in 2015
Youssouf worked at Djibouti's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and headed its Arab affairs department during the 1990s. He served as Ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001.[8]
Youssouf was appointed as Minister-Delegate for International Cooperation on 4 July 2001.[9][10] He was subsequently appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on 22 May 2005.[11] In 2006,he visited Japan.[12]
In 2008,Youssouf served as Chairman of the 129th Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League.[13]
Youssouf has played important roles in international diplomacy,especially in the Horn of Africa.[7] Speaking to The New York Times in 2008,Youssouf said that although Djibouti was a small country,it had a sizable port and hoped to develop its economy along the same lines as Dubai. He highlighted the country's strategic location,which he asserted was better positioned than Dubai.[14]
Djibouti nominated Youssouf as their candidate for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) in April 2024.[15] Youssouf considered peace and security his top priority.[16] In the AUC chair candidates debate, Youssouf stated that African countries should lead the way in dealing with security issues and should stop depending on other nations. He criticised the Peace and Security Council for being reactive rather than proactive and noted that the African Standby Forces were rarely utilised due to funding issues.[7] He was endorsed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.[6]
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