Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf is pulling out all the stops to clinch the African Union Chairperson position with his recent endorsements.
At the recent 50th Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Youssouf secured unanimous backing from all 57 member states, including 27 from Africa.
“The 50th session of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held in the capital of the Republic of Cameroon, Yaoundé, from 29 to 30 August 2024, unanimously adopted a resolution to support the candidacy of Mr Mahmoud Youssof, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti to occupy the post of Chairperson of the @_AfricanUnion Commission for the period 2025 – 2029,” Djibouti Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dya Bahakhrama disclosed on his X account.
The OIC is an intergovernmental organization comprising 57 member states, 48 of which are Muslim-majority nations. Established in 1969, its mission is to safeguard and protect the interests of Muslim countries while promoting international peace and harmony. The organization’s official languages are Arabic, English, and French.
Among the 57 member states, 27 are African, including Algeria Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda.
While most member countries are Muslim-majority, some, like Ivory Coast, Gabon, Mozambique, Nigeria, Togo, and Uganda, are not, but they have significant Muslim populations.
Youssouf’s endorsement has complicated matters for the other candidates, particularly Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has been campaigning tirelessly across East and Central Africa.
Given his distinguished diplomatic career, pundits believe Youssouf stands a strong chance of winning the election against Raila, with his extensive credibility serving as a significant advantage.
Additionally, with the recent backing from Muslim-majority states, Youssouf could emerge as the frontrunner in the election, securing over 20 votes from influential countries like Egypt and Algeria. This support could potentially give him a decisive advantage over Raila.
Moreover, Youssouf’s fluency in French and Arabic boosts his appeal to Francophone nations, strengthening his position through strategic alliances.
The election is scheduled for February 2025 and will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the African Union Summit.
To secure the coveted continental seat and succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat, a candidate must obtain 66 percent of the votes, equivalent to support from 32 countries.
The new Chairman will assume the roles of Chief Executive Officer, legal representative, and accounting officer of the African Union among other responsibilities.
Other notable candidates in the race for the AU Chairmanship, include Mauritius’ Anil Gayan, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.
