Djibouti’s Youssouf Ascends to African Union Commission Chair After Grueling Election
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – In a dramatic diplomatic showdown in Addis Ababa, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mohamoud Ali Youssouf has been elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), AQRI.net has learned. Youssouf emerged victorious after a grueling six rounds of secret balloting on Saturday, overcoming strong challenges from Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s Richard Randiamandrato.
Sources inside Nelson Mandela Hall, where the high-stakes election unfolded, described intense diplomatic maneuvering throughout the day. Youssouf finally secured the necessary 33 votes from the 55-member bloc, marking a significant moment for Djiboutian diplomacy on the continental stage.
The veteran diplomat, who has helmed Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over two decades, is set to take the reins from outgoing Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad. The election, initially predicted to be a swift process, stretched into multiple rounds as member states deliberated behind closed doors, highlighting the deep divisions and competing interests within the African Union.
Voting Dynamics:
Round Kenya Djibouti Madagascar 1 20 19 10 2 22 18 7 3 20 23 5 4 21 25 0 5 21 26 0 6 22 26 0
The African Union, comprised of 55 member states, entrusts the selection of the AUC leader to its heads of state and government. This powerful figure effectively serves as the chief executive of the AU’s secretariat based in Addis Ababa, wielding significant influence over the organization’s agenda and direction.
Youssouf’s victory is being hailed as a major diplomatic coup for Djibouti, a nation that has been strategically working to amplify its voice and influence within the African Union. As the newly elected Chairperson, he will face a daunting array of challenges, including navigating persistent peace and security crises across the continent, accelerating economic integration efforts, and spearheading crucial reforms within the AU itself.
AQRI.net will continue to follow this developing story and the implications of Youssouf’s leadership for the African Union and the continent.
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