Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Wins African Union Commission Chairpersonship

By Godfred Zina

A few weeks ago, after conducting a poll, I wrote about the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship race. Read my original post here.

I noted that the contest would come down to Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Kenya’s Raila Odinga. I also emphasized that high-profile campaigns do not always guarantee victory, citing Amina Mohamed’s unsuccessful bid in 2017 as an example.

Odinga’s defeat further reinforces this point – winning elections requires strategic maneuvering beyond visibility and prominence. Factors such as regional zoning, colonial ties, and religion play a crucial role in influencing votes.

Additionally, African leaders must focus on key issues like employment, healthcare, education, and security rather than prioritizing corporate-style meetings.

A Closer Look at the Election

The AUC election was a tightly contested battle primarily between Kenya and Djibouti. Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato was eliminated in the third round, leaving Odinga and Youssouf in a direct face-off.

Odinga initially led in the first two rounds but began losing ground in the third, allowing Youssouf to gain momentum. Youssouf maintained his lead in subsequent rounds, widening the gap with each vote.

By the sixth round, Odinga had fallen too far behind and was eliminated. In the decisive seventh round, Youssouf secured the required 33 votes to clinch victory.

As Djibouti’s Foreign Minister since 2005, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has championed increased resources for a regional standby force to strengthen African security. He also advocates for Africa’s representation with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.

Meanwhile, Algeria’s Selma Malika was elected as the incoming AUC Deputy Chairperson.

Godfred Zina is a freelance journalist and an associate with DefSEC Analytics Africa – a consulting agency specializing in the provision of accurate data and assessments on security, politics, investment, trade, and other risks within Africa. He is based in Accra, Ghana.