Assahafa.com
African leaders elected Djibouti’s long-serving Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as the new chairperson of the African Union Commission on Saturday in Addis Ababa, marking a significant leadership transition for the continental body.
Youssouf, who has held his foreign affairs portfolio since 2005, secured victory against Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s ex-Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato in a vote at the AU summit in the Ethiopian capital.
Youssouf’s path to leadership was strengthened through strategic diplomatic alignments, notably with Morocco during a high-level meeting in Rabat last December, where he delivered a written message from President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh to King Mohammed VI.
During joint talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, he outlined his vision for the organization’s future, stating, “If I am elected President of the African Union Commission, my priority will be financial management and governance. My goal will also be to mobilize internal funds.”
The diplomatic engagement materialized longstanding bilateral ties, with Bourita affirming that “Djibouti has always been a source of trust and credibility, able to play a leading role in promoting stability and security in the region.”
Youssouf reciprocated by referencing the “solid ties based on mutual respect and pan-Arab and Islamic brotherhood” between the two nations, while acknowledging Morocco’s significant annual contribution of $35 million to the AU budget.
The newly elected AU Commission chief brings extensive diplomatic experience to the role, having previously served as Djibouti’s ambassador to Egypt and worked under three presidential administrations. He will serve a four-year term, replacing Moussa Faki of Chad, who has led the commission since 2017.
The election outcome dealt a significant setback to the 80-year-old Odinga, whose bid for the AU post was widely seen as his final venture in public service after five unsuccessful runs for Kenya’s presidency over three decades.
As Youssouf prepares to take the helm of the 55-member continental organization, he faces pressing challenges, including the surge of military takeovers in West Africa and escalating violence in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels have recently captured two major cities.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s diplomatic efforts remain focused on securing the strategic position of Commission vice-president. The country’s candidate, Latifa Akharbach, who heads Morocco’s High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), is competing against Algeria’s AU Ambassador Selma Haddadi in a closely watched race that highlights the ongoing regional rivalry.
The competition intensified after Wednesday’s deadlock at the Peace and Security Council elections, where Algeria’s bid to replace Morocco’s three-year tenure failed to secure the required two-thirds majority. The vice-presidential election this weekend is expected to be another test of both countries’ diplomatic influence within the continental body.
Source: Morocco word news
