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Mahmoud Ali Youssouf/BBC Photo
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf during the 38th African Union (AU) Summit, where leaders have elected him the new head of the AU Commission, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, on 15 February 2025. AFP – AMANUEL SILESHI
The Djiboutian presidency’s spokesman has said that Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected Saturday as the chairman of the African Union’s executive commission.
Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Courtesy Photo:
The 59-year-old career diplomat has been foreign minister of Djibouti since 2005, as the tiny Horn of Africa nation remains strategically located for Western powers.
He speaks English, French and Arabic, and, though he is considered an outside contender, observers have praised his low-key campaign.
His knowledge of AU institutions is also considered an advantage, according to an International Crisis Group report.
In an interview with AFP in December, Youssouf had said there was a “governance problem” in some African nations, particularly those shaken by coups.
 (with AFP)
Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson position, Raila Odinga, has lost in the election held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Although Raila won the first two rounds of voting, Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf triumphed in the subsequent rounds, securing the Chairperson seat.
In the first round, Raila received 22 votes, while Mahamoud garnered 18 votes, and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar secured 10 votes. One vote was abstained.
The second round saw Raila with 20 votes, Mahamoud with 18, and Randriamandrato again with 10. One country abstained.
In the third round, Raila’s vote count held steady at 20, but Mahamoud overtook him with 23 votes, while Randriamandrato’s support dwindled to 5. One vote was abstained. As a result, Randriamandrato was eliminated from the race, leaving Raila and Mahamoud to compete head-to-head.
Mahamoud increased his lead in the fourth round, securing 25 votes compared to Raila’s 21. There was one spoiled vote, and one country abstained.
In the fifth round, Mahamoud received 26 votes, while Raila garnered 21, with one abstention.
After the fifth round, Raila was eliminated from the race, leaving Mahamoud as the only remaining candidate.
In the final round, Mahamoud claimed victory, earning 33 votes, and is set to replace Chad’s Moussa Faki, who has held the position for eight years.
Mahamoud is a seasoned diplomat and long-serving foreign minister of Djibouti.
The African Union Commission is the secretariat of the African Union (AU) and manages the day-to-day activities of the 55-country bloc. It is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The chairperson is elected for a four-year term, renewable once according to Radio Tamazuj