Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf elected as AU Commission Chair
Djibouti’s long-serving foreign minister, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has been elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) at the 38th African Union (AU) Summit at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
H.E. Youssouf to head the AU Commission secretariat in Addis Ababa for the next four years, while Algeria’s Ambassador to Addis Ababa and Permanent Representative to the AU, H.E. Selma Malika will serve as his Deputy.
As the new Chair, he will serve as the official representative of the African Union, promoting its interests and engaging with global partners. He will also provide strategic direction and oversee the implementation of African Union policies and programs.
He defeated former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato, taking over from Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat, who has been in the role since 2017.
The election’s result was a setback for Raila Odinga, the 80-year-old opposition leader from Kenya who had hoped to become the chairman of the AU as the pinnacle of his political career. Odinga has run unsuccessfully for president of Kenya five times. Some believe the loss was his final opportunity to gain recognition on a global scene.
H.E. Youssouf in his acceptance speech acknowledged the challenges ahead, pledging to work closely with the 55 member states of the AU to promote peace, security, and economic growth for the benefit of all Africans.
“The unity and progress of our continent depend on our collective resolve to address our shared challenges. We must strengthen our institutions, promote dialogue, and uphold the principles of good governance for the benefit of all Africans,” H.E. Youssouf said.
In his new position, H.E. Youssouf, the former foreign minister of Djibouti since 2005, will have to steer the continent through a number of difficult issues, such as the rise in military takeovers in West Africa and the continuing bloody civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Expectations are high as H.E. Youssouf gets ready to take office since the AU Commission is essential to coordinating continental responses to security and political crises. However, the organization has frequently come under fire for what some perceive to be a passive response to crises, such as the continuing civil war in Sudan and the Sahelian insurgencies.
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
