Mahamat Saleh Annadif

Who is Mahamat Saleh Annadif?

Mahamat Saleh Annadif is a Chadian diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2003.

Annadif was born in Arada, Chad and worked at the telecommunications department of the National Office of Posts and Telecommunications from 1981 to 1982. As a leading member of the National Liberation Front of Chad/Democratic Revolutionary Council, he was in charge of the group's information and propaganda from 1982 to 1985; afterwards he was Second Vice-President of FROLINAT/CDR from 1985 to 1988. He again worked at the ONTP from 1988 to 1989 as head of research, and he served in the government as Secretary of State for Agriculture from 1989 to 1990. Later, he was Director-General of the ONTP from 1995 to 1997.

Annadif was first appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs on May 21, 1997. On January 9, 2003, he signed a peace agreement with Mahamat Garfa, the leader of the rebel National Resistance Alliance, in Libreville, Gabon, providing for a cease-fire and the reintegration of the rebels into society. He was replaced as Foreign Minister after six years. Later, he was appointed as the Director of the Cabinet of President Idriss Déby, taking office on September 9, 2004. He was subsequently appointed as Permanent Representative of the African Union to the European Union in May 2006. He was appointed as Secretary-general of the Presidency of the Republic of Tchad in April 2010. He was named African Union Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the African Union Mission in Somalia on November, 2nd 2012. Annadif is a member of the International Advisory Board of the African Press Organization.