Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Youssouf Elected as New President of AUC

(3 Minutes Read)

Youssouf will take over the reins from Mr. HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, of Chad, who was the President of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson since March 2017.  Youssouf will serve a four-year term.

Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Youssouf, is the new President of the African Union after defeating former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Malagasy Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato. The keenly fought election grabbed the attention of international media.

Youssouf will take over the reins from Mr. HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, of Chad, who was the President of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson since March 2017.  Youssouf will serve a four-year term.

Mahmoud Youssouf says he will prioritize regional security and promote greater unity across Africa, aiming to bridge linguistic and cultural divides on the continent. His win marks a significant moment for Djibouti, as he prepares to lead the African Union’s efforts in tackling key issues facing the region.

Youssouf has been foreign minister since 2005. He was previously Djibouti’s ambassador to Egypt and served as foreign minister in the governments of three presidents. The AU has 55 member states. Presidents or heads of government pick the commission’s leader, who is effectively the chief executive of the Addis Ababa-based secretariat running the AU.

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The result is a blow for the high-profile Odinga, who sought support among allies at home and abroad. The 80-year-old Odinga has sought Kenya’s presidency five times over three decades, and the AU post would have been his last foray into public affairs. His long and colorful career in local politics peaked with his rise to the position of prime minister in 2008 after tense negotiations to end post election violence in which at least 1,000 people were killed in Kenya