Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has been elected as the next Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Youssouf clinched the position by securing the necessary two-thirds majority, garnering 33 votes in the crucial final round.
The election, held amidst intense competition, saw Kenya’s veteran politician Raila Odinga withdrawing from the race after the sixth round of voting.
Odinga had secured 22 votes in this round, while Youssouf led with 26 votes.
The withdrawal of Odinga paved the way for Youssouf to attempt the seventh and last round of voting to secure the position.
The race initially included three prominent candidates following the elimination of Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard James Randriamandrato after the third round.
Randriamandrato’s exit narrowed the field, setting the stage for a head-to-head between Youssouf and Odinga.
Youssouf, known for his diplomatic acumen, has been Djibouti’s Foreign Minister since 2005 and brings over three decades of experience in African diplomacy.
Raila Odinga, a five-time Kenyan presidential candidate and former Prime Minister, had campaigned vigorously with a platform centered on peace, infrastructure development, and economic transformation.