Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas, former Prime Minister of Somalia, has been appointed by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali youssouf, as the Special Representative of the AU Chairperson to South Sudan and the Head of the AU Liaison Office in Juba on Sunday 29th June.
In his new role, Dr. Gaas will represent the AU Chairperson in South Sudan, managing the AU’s liaison efforts in the country to support peace, security, and development initiatives in the region.
Abdiweli Gaas is a Somali-American economist and politician who served as Somalia's Prime Minister from June 2011 to October 2012. During his time as Prime Minister, he introduced the "Roadmap for the End of Transition," a political process aimed at establishing permanent democratic institutions in Somalia. After his tenure, he was elected as the 5th President of Puntland in January 2014. During his presidency, Gaas initiated several infrastructure projects, fostered international partnerships, and led regional development efforts, including cooperation with the EU, UAE, and Australia. Gaas also managed security operations, most notably the Galgala campaign against Al-Shabaab.
This appointment marks a significant development for both Dr. Gaas and the African Union’s efforts to contribute to the stability and development of South Sudan.
