Addis Ababa — The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has officially appointed Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas, former Prime Minister of Somalia, as the AU Special Representative to South Sudan and Head of the AU Liaison Office in Juba.
This strategic appointment is part of the African Union’s commitment to enhancing its role in supporting peace, stability, and governance in South Sudan. Dr. Gaas, an accomplished academic and statesman, brings a wealth of experience in governance, diplomacy, and regional peacebuilding to the role.
Dr. Gaas served as Somalia’s Prime Minister from June 2011 to October 2012 during a critical transitional period and later as President of Puntland from 2014 to 2019. He is widely recognized for his role in institutional reforms, federalization processes, and reconciliation efforts in Somalia. His academic background includes a PhD in economics, and he has held teaching positions at U.S. universities before entering Somali politics.
In his new position, Dr. Gaas will lead the AU’s diplomatic and political engagement in South Sudan, coordinate with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the UN, and other regional and international actors, and support implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The AU Commission emphasized that Dr. Gaas’s leadership will be critical in advancing dialogue among South Sudanese stakeholders, strengthening democratic institutions, and supporting preparations for the country’s first post-independence elections.
His appointment follows a series of high-level AU initiatives aimed at sustaining peace in South Sudan and fostering greater integration across the continent.