- Djibouti's Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Youssouf, was chosen as the new head of the African Union Commission (AUC).
- Youssouf expressed his gratitude to all the members who backed and voted for him during the election held on Saturday, February 15 at the AU summit in Addis Ababa.
- The new president of the African Union Commission, a citizen of Djibouti, will serve a four-year term following Moussa Faki of Chad.
Djibouti's long-serving Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahamoud Youssouf, has expressed gratitude to African heads of state who supported and voted for him in the African Union Commission (AUC) elections held on Saturday, February 15.
Youssouf secured the chairmanship in the seventh round after receiving 33 votes, following the withdrawal of former prime minister Raila Odinga from the contest.
What did Mahamoud Youssouf say after the victory?
In his victory speech, Youssouf declared:
I extend my gratitude to all of you for your steadfast support. We achieved this together. I am deeply humbled and extremely grateful. May God assist me in serving the continent and our African communities.
The election, held during the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, saw Youssouf emerge victorious over Raila and Madagascar's former foreign minister Richard Randriamandrato.
Youssouf is scheduled to serve a four-year term, taking over from Moussa Faki of Chad, who has held the position since 2017.
Raila's bid for the position of African Union Commission chair had drawn considerable attention, with a substantial Kenyan delegation in Addis Ababa to back his candidacy.
Despite his initial lead in the early rounds, Raila gave up in the sixth round as Youssouf continued to maintain a steady lead.
Youssouf's triumph is regarded as a reflection of his substantial diplomatic expertise and the strategic partnerships he has established over the years.
As he prepares to take office, the African continent eagerly anticipates his leadership in addressing pressing challenges and promoting unity among member states.
Former Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mukhisa Kituyi, has predicted a loss for Raila Odinga in the August 9 presidential election.
A video has resurfaced featuring political expert Mukhisa Kituyi discussing the factors that may have led to Raila's defeat in the most recent election.
Kituyi pointed out the complexities of religious and geopolitical dynamics, noting that francophone countries have traditionally supported their own candidates.
He also referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he claimed compromised President William Ruto's influence because of his controversial position on the war.
What else do you need to know about Raila Odinga's AUCC loss?
- Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino stated that President Ruto's backing of Raila was not sincere.
- Senior economic advisor Moses Kuria stated that Africa has lost a visionary leader whose absence will be greatly felt in the years to come
- A section of Kisumu residents changed their tune and criticized Ruto's administration following the devastating loss, while others urged Raila to run for president in the 2027 elections
- A section of Nyeri residents welcomed the defeat of Raila and called on him to return home and continue advocating for the rights of the people.