Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected chairman of the African Union’s Executive Commission on Saturday, winning 33 votes against Raila Odinga. The foreign minister of Djibouti since 2005, Youssouf has extensive diplomatic experience and multilingual skills. His low-key campaign and understanding of AU institutions are viewed positively, especially concerning governance issues in affected African nations.

On Saturday, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected as the chairman of the African Union’s executive commission. This announcement was made by the Djiboutian presidency’s spokesman, highlighting Youssouf’s victory in the election. Ilyas Dawaleh, Djibouti’s economy and finance minister, confirmed this success on social media, stating, “We won, we have secured the most votes, and we won.”

Youssouf secured 33 votes, defeating Kenyan politician Raila Odinga and succeeding Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat, thus entering a four-year term. At 59 years old, Youssouf has been Djibouti’s foreign minister since 2005. He has previously served as ambassador to Egypt and held the foreign minister role under three presidents. His multilingual abilities include fluency in English, French, and Arabic.

While initially seen as an outsider, Youssouf’s low-key campaign has garnered praise from observers. His extensive understanding of African Union institutions is deemed to be a significant advantage, according to reports by the International Crisis Group. In a past interview with AFP, he noted the existence of a governance crisis in various African nations, particularly affected by political coups.

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf’s election as the AU Commission chairman marks a significant political development, emphasizing Djibouti’s strategic positioning in the region. With his diplomatic experience and insights on governance issues in Africa, Youssouf is expected to bring valuable perspectives to the African Union, enhancing its leadership and functionality during his tenure.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr