Erywan Yusof | |
|---|---|
| اريوان يوسف | |
_(cropped).jpg) Dato Erywan in 2018 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs II | |
| Assumed office 29 January 2018 | |
| Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Preceded by | Lim Jock Seng |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| In office 22 October 2015 – 30 January 2018 | |
| Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Minister | Hassanal Bolkiah Lim Jock Seng |
| Preceded by | Ali Mohammad Daud |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Pengiran Salwana |
| Alma mater | University College Swansea |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Signature |  |
Erywan bin Haji Mohd. Yusof is the incumbent2nd Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei. He also served asASEAN's firstspecial envoy toMyanmar from August to December 2021 following theMyanmar coup d'état and the resultingcivil war.[1][2]
Dato Erywan graduated fromUniversity College Swansea (now Swansea University) in 1991 with aMaster of Science degree in Genetics and its Applications.[3]
Erywan was appointed deputy minister of foreign affairs in the 2015cabinet reshuffle on 22 October, and subsequently appointed deputy chairman of the Brunei Strategy Council in November 2015 and of theBrunei Economic Development Board in 2016.[3] Following acabinet reshuffle on 30 January 2018, he was appointed as minister of foreign affairs II.
On 4 August 2021, ASEAN Foreign Ministers selected Dato Erywan as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar, to help mediate the country's crisis following theFebruary 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[1] He had previously been instrumental in helping to draft theFive-Point Consensus (5PC) in April 2021, which was subsequently adopted by the ASEAN Leaders' meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.United NationsSecretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres welcomed Dato Erywan's appointment as a positive step towards promoting dialogue and consultation in view of Dato Erywan's extensive experience as a negotiator.[1] However, 413 civil society organisations in Myanmar publicly criticized ASEAN's appointment of Dato Erywan for excluding the exiledNational Unity Government (NUG), civil society, and pro-democracy forces such as the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) from the decision-making process.[4][5]
On 6 October, Dato Erywan expressed serious concerns with the SAC's lack of progress in implementing the 5PC, signaling that ASEAN may not invite the SAC, to theASEAN Summit later that month.[6] On 4 October 2023, Yusof was denied by the military junta his request to meet with jailed leaderAung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, only allowing a meeting with former vice presidentHenry Van Thio and formerassembly speakerT Khun Myat, both of whom were under house arrest at the time.[7] Ten days later, he abruptly cancelled his visit to Myanmar.[8][9]Min Aung Hlaing was ultimately barred from attending the summit on 26 October.[10][11]Hun Sen signaled he may replace Yusof with Cambodia's incumbent foreign ministerPrak Sokhonn, who has criticized the Burmese military regime, when Cambodia chairs ASEAN next year.[12] Sokhonn succeeded Yusof as special envoy on 1 January 2022.[13]
Following anothercabinet reshuffle in Brunei on 7 June 2022, Erywan retained his position as 2nd minister of foreign affairs.
Dato Erywan is married to Pengiran Datin Hajah Salwana binti Pengiran Haji Ibrahim.[14]
Throughout his career, he has earned the following honours:[15]
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Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB) –Dato Seri Setia[16].png)
Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB; 15 July 2017) –Dato Seri Paduka[17]
Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 2010) –Dato Paduka[18].gif)
Meritorious Service Medal (PJK).jpg)
Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
Japan:
Order of the Rising Sun First Class (29 April 2023)[19][20]| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs II 30 January 2018 – present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 22 October 2015 – 30 January 2018 | Succeeded by Incumbent |
1 Than Swe is currently recognized as Myanmar's official Foreign Minister by ASEAN, instead ofKo Ko Hlaing (despite the latter currently serving as Myanmar's Minister of International Cooperation). |
