Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Youssouf beats Raila to win AUC chair race
Saturday February 15, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mohamoud Ali Youssouf has been elected as the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson after securing the required 33 votes in a highly contested election on Saturday in Addis Ababa.
Youssouf defeated Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s Richard Randiamandrato. The final results were announced after sixth rounds of secret balloting at Nelson Mandela Hall, during which intense diplomatic maneuvering shaped the outcome.
The Djiboutian diplomat, who has served as his country’s Foreign Affairs Minister for over two decades, will succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chad’s former prime minister, as the AUC chairperson.
Voting Breakdown:
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.
His election marks a diplomatic victory for Djibouti, solidifying its influence within the African Union. The new chairperson is expected to tackle pressing continental issues, including peace and security challenges, economic integration, and AU reforms.