Mohamed Idris Named African Union Permanent Observer to the UN

Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Idris has been appointed as the African Union’s (AU) permanent observer to the United Nations and will also serve as head of the AU’s mission in New York. The appointment was received as a vote of confidence in Egyptian diplomatic capabilities within both regional and international institutions.

Idris brings extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, particularly in matters of peace, security, and development across the African continent. His previous roles include serving as Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Permanent Representative to the African Union. He is currently a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, which is tasked with evaluating the UN’s peacebuilding architecture.

The announcement comes at a time when Egypt continues to play a central role in African affairs. The country currently holds a seat on the AU Peace and Security Council and remains active in promoting peacekeeping and post-conflict recovery efforts. Egyptian leadership in African development was further underscored by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s stewardship of the AU’s Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development file and his ongoing chairmanship of the AUDA-NEPAD Steering Committee.