• AUC
• Mahmoud Ali Yousouf
• OAU

DJIBOUTI’S MAHMOUD ALI YOSSOUF ELECTED AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON

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  Nicolas Adekeye / 3 weeks
• 0
• 2 min read

In a significant development, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has been elected as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) for a four-year term. Youssouf, 59, succeeds Moussa Faki of Chad, who has led the Commission since 2017. Youssouf’s election was confirmed after a marathon seventh round of voting at the 38th ordinary summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He secured the mandatory 33 votes, defeating two other contestants, Madagascar’s ex-Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato and Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Selma Malika Haddadi, Algeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, was also elected as the Deputy Chairperson, replacing Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa of Rwanda. Youssouf, a seasoned diplomat, has stated that his priority as AUC Chairperson will be financial management and governance. “If I am elected, my priority will be financial management and governance,” he said in Rabat, Morocco last December. “My goal will also be to mobilise internal funds. Djibouti has always been a source of trust and credibility, able to play a leading role in promoting stability and security.” The new AUC leadership under Youssouf faces significant challenges, including internal leadership issues, insecurity, terrorism, and climate change concerns. At least six of the 55-nation Member States are under military dictatorships, and several countries are experiencing violent conflicts. The African Union Commission replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 2002. Youssouf’s election is seen as a significant development in African politics, and he is expected to play a key role in shaping the continent’s future.