Djibouti's Foreign Minister Ali Youssouf wins race for AUC Chairperson slot
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emerged victorious in the tough race for the leadership of the African Union Commission (AUC) on Saturday, after the seventh voting round during the 38th Session of the African Union Summit.
The Djiboutian candidate garnered the magic 33 votes to emerge winner after his closes challanger dropped out of the race on the sixth round.
Youssouf, 59, has been Foreign Minister since 2005 and is noted for his fluency in various languages, including French, English.
The European Union (EU) recognised Mr Youssouf for his performance in combating piracy off the Indian Ocean coast.
Three candidates lined up for the elections: former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s foreign minister Mohmoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s former finance and Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato.
The AU Summit also elected a Deputy Chairperson, Selma Malika Heddadi of Algeria.
“Your victory is a reflection of the trust and confidence placed in your leadership, vision, and dedication to serving the people,” a post on the African Union's social media handle stated.
In his concession speech, Odinga, said he was relieved of the outcome of the elections.
“I will still be available to serve in any other capacity in Africa,” Odinga told reporters after the vote in Addis Ababa.
During the Summit, Angola's Joao Manuel Lourenco assumed the rotating Chair of the African Union.
The Angolan leader took the baton from President Mohamad Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who led the continental organisation for the past year, when the continent witnessed major political changes and democracy at work.
A record of seven new continental leaders took the floor of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa before the vote for the Chairperson of the AU Commission.
During the opening ceremony, the outgoing Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission Moussa Faki decried “rapid geopolitical upheavals” across the world, which had profound economic and social and political impact across Africa.
He said these global trends led to the collapse of pan Africanism and accelerated economic collapse across the continent. Faki criticised the growing foreign appetite for Africa in the middle of the global geopolitical crises, which has contributed to the deterioration of the food security systems in Africa.
-0- PANA AO/MA 15Feb2025
