African leaders on Saturday elected Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s long-serving foreign minister, as the new chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission.
Youssouf’s victory came after a competitive vote at the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he defeated Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s ex-foreign minister Richard Randriamandrato.
The election marked the culmination of months of diplomatic maneuvering, with leaders from the AU’s 55 member states ultimately choosing Youssouf to lead the Addis Ababa-based secretariat for the next four years.
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He will succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who has held the position since 2017.
Youssouf, who has been Djibouti’s foreign minister since 2005, is stepping into a role that requires navigating the continent through complex challenges, including a surge in military coups in West Africa and ongoing violence in eastern Congo, where rebel forces backed by Rwanda recently seized two major cities.
The outcome of the election is a significant blow to Raila Odinga, the 80-year-old Kenyan opposition figure who had sought the AU chairmanship as a capstone to his long political career.
Odinga, who served as Kenya’s prime minister from 2008 to 2013 following a power-sharing deal to end deadly post-election violence, has unsuccessfully contested Kenya’s presidency five times.
Odinga’s bid for the AU role was seen by many as his last chance to secure a prominent position on the international stage.
However, his recent political rapprochement with Kenyan President William Ruto – a former rival – sparked controversy at home, where some of his supporters viewed the alliance as a betrayal of his decades-long fight for good governance.
Read also: How African Union’s next Chair emerges
As Youssouf prepares to assume office, expectations are high as the AU Commission plays a critical role in coordinating continental responses to political and security crises.
Yet, the organization has often faced criticism for what some see as a passive approach to conflicts, including the ongoing civil war in Sudan and insurgencies across the Sahel.
In his acceptance speech, Youssouf acknowledged the challenges ahead, pledging to work closely with member states to foster peace, security, and economic growth across Africa.
“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”, Youssouf said.
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