Djibouti on Tuesday, April 9, announced the candidacy of its Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Ali Youssouf for the presidency of the African Union Commission.
Through a dispatch, Djibouti said it has faith in the ability of Minister Youssouf, whom it described “a man of experience and seasoned diplomat, knowing the workings of the Continental Organization [African Union] to serve and breathe new life into the Pan-African Organization”.
“With more than two decades of experience as Minister of Foreign Affairs of his country, a haven of peace and which is distinguished by the constant search for conflict resolution through dialogue and negotiation, Mr. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has all the the assets to meet the expectations and interests of the continent. He speaks French, English and Arabic fluently,” the dispatch said.
Youssouf has been Djibouti’s Foreign minister since 2005.
He headed the Ministry’s Arab Affairs Department during the 1990s, and was Ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001.
Upon completion of his tour of duty in Cairo, Youssouf was appointed Minister-Delegate for International Cooperation in July 2001.
In 2008, Youssouf served as Chairman of the 129th Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League.
Former IGAD spokesperson Nuur Mohamud Sheekh said Youssouf’s distinguished service for over two decades, coupled with his able chairmanship of the IGAD Council and the AU Peace and Security Council makes him a fitting candidate for the AU job.
“Given the significant global challenges confronting Africa, a seasoned leader capable of navigating complexities with pragmatism and efficacy to foster unity and coherence is what is needed,” Nuur said.
RAILA’S BID COMPLICATED
His entry into the race complicates Raila’s bid, who until the Tuesday developments only had Fawzia Yussuf of Somalia to worry about.
The Djibouti bid is seen as targeting the Francophone and Arab countries.
Since 1977, Djibouti has been a member the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, which has 21 African states as members. Eight others are also French-speaking.
From the region, President William Ruto has secured the support of Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
Djibouti is also a member of the Arab League, that has 10 members from Africa. They are Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti, Mauritania, and Comoros Islands.
While the Eastern region is fronting candidates for the chairmanship in the election, the Northern region, which is entirely Arabic, will front candidates for the deputy chairperson.
In the 2017 election, Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary who was favourite in the race lost to to her then counterpart Moussa Faki of Chad. Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal was also a favourite in the race but was seen as “France’s man”.
