(AP) – The leaders of African Union (AU) member states on Saturday, February 15, 2025, elected Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the branch responsible for the organization’s daily operations. His election comes at a critical time as conflicts continue to escalate in two of Africa’s largest nations.
At the AU’s annual summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Youssouf was chosen in a secret ballot after multiple rounds of voting, defeating Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato.
Youssouf, who turned 60 last week, initially trailed Odinga in the first two rounds of voting. However, he gained momentum in the subsequent rounds and ultimately secured the required 33 votes in the seventh round, becoming the sole remaining candidate.
He succeeds Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat, who served two terms as AU Commission Chairperson.
As Djibouti’s Foreign Minister since 2005, Youssouf is the longest-serving foreign minister in Africa.
AU Summit Attendance and Leadership Changes
The summit was attended by representatives from 55 AU member states, except for six countries that remain suspended. An Ethiopian Foreign Ministry source, speaking anonymously to VOA’s Horn of Africa Service, confirmed that 29 presidents, three vice presidents, four prime ministers, and a king were present.
Additionally, Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço assumed the AU’s rotating chairmanship, replacing Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.
New AU Chief Faces Escalating Conflicts
Youssouf takes office as Africa faces significant security challenges, including the worsening conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
M23 rebels have recently made territorial gains, advancing toward Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC, just two weeks after capturing the main city of Goma. The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the rebels, an allegation Rwanda denies.
AU leaders have called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the cessation of hostilities, and the reopening of major supply routes, including Goma airport.
Another key crisis under discussion at the summit is the ongoing war in Sudan. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who attended the summit, urged the warring factions in Sudan to halt hostilities and protect civilians, including humanitarian workers. He also made an appeal for $6 billion to assist the 26 million Sudanese in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Youssouf’s Priorities: Conflict Resolution and Institutional Reform
In an interview with VOA’s Horn of Africa Service last year, Youssouf emphasized his commitment to peace and security on the continent.
“Silencing the gun, you know, preventing conflicts, resolving those wars and internal crises … that we are faced with already is one of the priorities,” he said.
“Of course, this is something that we need to work on, and I’ll make sure that the commission will concentrate on that particular program.”
Youssouf also pledged to implement institutional reforms within the AU, aiming to recruit highly qualified professionals and uphold excellence, merit, and competence in the organization.
“If you have a good staff at the commission, it will be much easier for all of us to implement the reforms that have already been enacted by our leaders,” he said.
With the AU navigating complex regional conflicts and governance challenges, Youssouf’s leadership will be pivotal in steering the organization toward stability and reform.
