Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, is emerging as a significant contender in the upcoming election for the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
He will face off against Raila Odinga, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan from Mauritius, and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar in the vote scheduled for February next year.
Fawzia Yusuf Adam from Somalia had initially been a candidate but withdrew from the race last month, endorsing Raila Odinga.
It is reported that she was encouraged to step aside in favor of Youssouf.
The current AUC chairperson, Moussa Faki of Chad, is serving his final term, having been reelected on February 2, 2021. He first assumed the role in 2017.
Youssouf positions himself as a candidate who can bridge regional divides and address conflicts across Africa, leveraging his fluency in English, French, and Arabic.
The African Union’s official languages include Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili, and other African languages.
Born on September 2, 1965, in Djibouti City, Youssouf received his primary education locally before studying abroad in France, the UK, and Canada.
His extensive career in diplomacy began in 1992 when he led Arab affairs at Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He served as ambassador to Egypt in 1997 and later became a minister-delegate for international cooperation in 2001.
Youssouf has been Djibouti’s Foreign Minister since May 2005.
If elected, Youssouf promises significant reforms to the AUC, focusing on personnel, funding, and the division of tasks among regional economic communities.
He aims to advance continental trade agreements, support the African Continental Free Trade Area, enhance AU relationships with the EU and China, and amplify the voices of youth and women within the AU.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has pledged support for Youssouf, which could provide him with a competitive edge.
The OIC’s backing was confirmed by foreign ministers in Cameroon, with Djibouti’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama, sharing the news on X.
The OIC includes 27 African member states, though some, such as Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Mali, are currently suspended from the AU.
The AUC election will be conducted by secret ballot, requiring the winner to secure at least two-thirds of the votes from the heads of state of the 55 AU member countries, equivalent to 36 votes.
Language dynamics could play a crucial role in influencing the voting pattern, with 21 Francophone and 24 Anglophone countries on the continent.
Djibouti’s primary languages are French and Arabic.
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