Career
He has served in the government of Djibouti as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2005. He served as Ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001. Youssouf was appointed as Minister-Delegate for International Cooperation on 4 July 2001.
He was subsequently appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on 22 May 2005.
In 2006, he visited Japan. Youssouf served as Chairman of the 129th Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League in 2008.
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.
