Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has been elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission, defeating Kenya’s Raila Odinga in a five-round voting process in Addis Ababa. Youssouf, a veteran diplomat, will take over from Moussa Faki and lead the Commission, responsible for the AU’s daily operations, for a four-year renewable term.
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti has won the position of Chairperson for the African Union Commission (AUC) after a competitive election held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His main opponent, Raila Odinga from Kenya, initially led the voting in the first two rounds but ultimately lost as votes shifted in subsequent rounds.
In the first voting round, Raila secured 22 votes, while Mahamoud received 18 and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar got 10, with one abstention. The second round saw Raila maintain 20 votes, with Mahamoud again at 18 and Randriamandrato at 10, resulting in another abstention.
During the third round, Raila’s votes remained the same at 20, but Mahamoud gained an advantage with 23 votes as Randriamandrato’s support faded to 5, leading to his elimination. This left Mahamoud and Raila to continue into the next rounds of voting.
In the fourth round, Mahamoud extended his lead, attaining 25 votes against Raila’s 21, though there was one spoiled vote and one abstention. The fifth round concluded with Mahamoud receiving 26 votes, while Raila managed 21, resulting in Raila’s elimination.
Finally, Mahamoud claimed victory in the last round with an impressive 33 votes. He is expected to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki, who has held the chair for eight years. As a seasoned diplomat and Djibouti’s long-serving foreign minister, Mahamoud is poised to lead effectively.
The African Union Commission serves as the secretariat for the African Union, overseeing the administrative operations of this 55-member organization, based in Addis Ababa. The Chairperson is elected for a term of four years, which can be renewed once.
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf’s election as Chairperson of the African Union Commission marks a significant leadership transition from Moussa Faki. The election process highlighted Mahamoud’s resilience and diplomatic experience, key attributes for the role. As the Commission manages crucial activities of the African Union, Youssouf’s leadership is anticipated to influence the direction of the organization positively over the next four years.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
