The Yale Model African Union’s Secretariat is based in New Haven, Connecticut.
Programming, operations and external relations move as one conference system.
Abyssinia Haile is a junior at Yale University studying Global Affairs, with a focus on African studies. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and now based in the greater Boston area, she carries her Habesha roots, its dancing, food, and music, into everything she leads, including her return to Addis Ababa for YMAU VI.
Meti Negewo is a junior in Ezra Stiles College, double majoring in Global Affairs and Anthropology, with a Certificate in Education Studies. Originally from Ethiopia and now based in Minnesota, she leads sponsorship outreach as well as branding and communications for YMAU VI.
During YMAU V in Accra, she served as Co-USG of Branding and Marketing and chaired ECOSOCC. Beyond YMAU, Meti is Head Choreographer of Yale’s Ethiopian and Eritrean Dance Team, Desta, preserving and sharing her culture through performance, and Co-Vice President of the Yale African Students Association.
Gumana Elrufai is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College and intends to major in Global Affairs. Born in Khartoum, Sudan, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she oversees delegate recruitment and technology operations for YMAU VI.
She previously served as Co-USG of Delegate Recruitment for YMAU V. Outside YMAU, she founded The Voice of Sudan, a New York youth group bringing awareness to the civil war, and serves as secretary of the Yale African Students Association. Registration questions may be sent to programs@yalemodelau.org.
Amin Abdellatif is a junior in Saybrook College studying Global Affairs with a certificate in Human Rights. He spent most of his life in Khartoum, Sudan, before moving to the United States for university. He is passionate about advocating for displaced people on the African continent.
At YMAU V he served as Under-Secretary-General of Committees. He now oversees committees, conference programming and speaker outreach as the inaugural Director-General of Conference Programming. Having grown up in Sudan during a series of political revolutions, he is devoted to encouraging the capacity for change that African youth possess.
Joel Vincent is a second-year student at Yale College, majoring in History with a concentration in Politics and Law. He serves as the Under-Secretary-General of Business and Sponsorships for YMAU VI. Beyond YMAU, Joel is a Senator for the Yale College Council, Director of the Undergraduate Law Journal's podcast, and the Treasurer of the South Asian Society. He's very interested in local government politics and plans to pursue a career in law to positively impact his hometown in South Florida in the future. Joel is looking forward to meeting all of you at YMAU VI!
Sosena Tefera is a first-year student at Yale College, with plans to study Global Affairs and Economics. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, she contributes to YMAU VI’s branding and marketing efforts as an Under-Secretary-General within Internal Operations.
Outside of YMAU, she is a part of the Yale Daily News Magazine Editorial Board as a fact-checker and volunteers with IRIS, a New Haven organization dedicated to supporting refugees, where she helps advance its mission of empowering refugee children.
Allam Elmana is a second-year student at Yale College, majoring in Global Affairs with a focus in Public Health and Human Rights. Ethnically Sudanese, Allam was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. For YMAU VI, Allam is a Co-Under-Secretary-General of Marketing and Branding.
Beyond YMAU, Allam is the President of Desta, where he helps coordinate Sudanese, Ethiopian, and Eritrean dance performances; Communications Chair for the Yale Black Muslim Student Association; Co-Deputy of the Office of Outreach for the Yale Africa Innovation Symposium; and a Student Assistant at the Afro-American Cultural Center.
Naomi Obasa is a second-year student at Yale University majoring in Political Science and History on the pre-law track. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, she comes from a Nigerian-Yoruba background. For YMAU VI, she serves as the Under-Secretary-General of Committees, where she is dedicated to making the delegate experience as engaging, enjoyable, and rewarding as possible.
Outside of YMAU, Naomi works at Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center and the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. She is passionate about representation in media and education, and believes in the power of equipping young people with the tools to dream and realize their potential.
Fridaous Laleye is a senior at the United States International University-Africa, majoring in International Relations and minoring in Integrated Studies. Fridaous is originally from Nigeria and Benin and was raised in Côte d’Ivoire, she started nurturing a profound love for the Francophone culture.
Fluent in both English and French and having participated in diplomacy, policy-making and leadership based programs across Africa, America and Europe, Fridaous has witnessed firsthand the gap in access to leadership, diplomacy and international affairs related opportunities for Francophone youth. As the chairperson of YMAU’s second Francophone committee, Fridaous aims to bridge that gap by providing a space for Francophone youth to engage with diplomacy and to discuss African affairs.
This is Fridaous’ fourth participation in YMAU. In the past, she has been a delegate, served as an assistant director for two consecutive years and will be a committee chairperson for next year’s iteration.
Outside of YMAU, she currently runs an EdTech startup, serves in her university’s student government and is working on the second iteration of SIMUA, Francophone Africa’s first Model African Union Simulation, which she founded in 2024.
Haerat Alabi is a third year student at Yale College, majoring in Neuroscience with a certificate in Global Health and Yoruba. Originally from Nigeria and now based in New York City, she is the Co-Under-Secretary-General of Delegate Recruitment. Outside YMAU VI, Haerat is the president of the Muslim Students Association and works in an epilepsy lab at the Yale New Haven Hospital.
Raphael Shaheen is a first-year student at Yale College from Iowa who attended high school in Eswatini. He plans to study Global Affairs and supports delegate recruitment and outreach, helping expand engagement and participation. Outside of his work, Raphael conducts research with the Yale Policy Institute and is involved in volunteering and community service, reflecting his interest in policy, global issues, and making a positive impact in communities.
Lindah Ganza is a first-year student at Yale College from Rwanda, currently considering Chemical Engineering as her intended major. As the Under-Secretary General of Speaker Outreach for YMAU VI, she is excited to help bring diverse African voices and perspectives into conversations about the continent’s future. Outside of YMAU, Lindah is a member of Dzana Dance Team, an Afro-fusion dance group that blends traditional and modern dance styles through Afro-inspired movement.
Herawie Kebede is a freshman at Yale College, majoring in Global Affairs. Born in Jimma, Ethiopia, and raised in Minnesota, she serves as Under-Secretary-General of Conferences for YMAU VI.
Outside of YMAU, Herawie competes for the Model UN Team at Yale and serves on the speaker outreach team for TEDxYale. Her academic and extracurricular pursuits are centered on diplomacy, public policy, and fostering global dialogue. She is passionate about creating platforms that elevate African voices and looks forward to ensuring an impactful conference experience for all YMAU VI delegates.
Sophie Sukendro is a first-year student at Yale College studying Global Affairs and Ethnicity, Race, & Migration with a certificate in Human Rights. Sophie grew up in Abu Dhabi, UAE but now lives in California. As the USG of Executive Affairs, she serves as the Secretary-General’s principal support officer. Outside of YMAU, Sophie is a pianist, researcher with Yale Policy Institute, External Partnership Director for Yale International Relations Association, and amateur rock climber.
Enisse Ndikumana is a second-year student at Yale College, majoring in Computer Science and Economics. Of Rwandan and Burundian descent, Enisse was born and raised in Austin, Texas. For YMAU VI, she serves as the USG of Technology and Digital Infrastructure, working to craft a seamless digital experience for the conference.
Outside of YMAU, Enisse is a software developer for the Yale Computer Society, a Web Content Editor for the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and a volunteer coding instructor for Code Haven. Across these roles, she is driven by a mission to broaden access to technology and use it to positively impact communities.