Djibouti's top diplomat elected as African Union Commission chair

By Sadik Kedir Abdu

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) – Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected to chair the African Union Commission in a secret ballot, replacing Chad's Moussa Faki Mahamat, who served two terms.

He defeated Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato in an election held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

Youssouf, 60, has been Djibouti's foreign minister since 2005.

In 2008, he chaired the 129th Ordinary Session of the Arab League's Council of Foreign Ministers, and from 1997 to 2001, he was Djibouti's ambassador to Egypt.

The selection took several rounds of voting. Youssouf came second in the first and second rounds behind Raila. In the following four rounds, he took the lead and became the sole candidate in the seventh round, with 33 votes required for victory in the final.

Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh hailed the victory as “a proud moment for Djibouti and Africa.”

“I extend my sincere gratitude to the Heads of State for their trust and support. His leadership will serve Africa with dedication and vision,” he said.