Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf could be Raila Odinga’s main contender in the race for the Africa Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
Raila will be on the ballot against Youssouf, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan of Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar) in the poll slated for February next year.
Somalia’s Fawzia Yusuf Adam pulled out of the race early last month and backed Raila.
She was allegedly asked to step down in favour of Youssouf.
Moussa Faki of Chad, the current chairperson is serving his final term in office having been reelected on February 2, 2021.
He was first elected in 2017.
Youssouf has presented himself as the only candidate who can help bridge the gaps between various regions of Africa and resolve conflicts in some countries given his ability to communicate in various languages.
He can speak fluently in English, French and Arabic.
The official languages of the African Union are Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili and any other African language.
Youssouf was born September 2, 1965, in Djibouti city and earned his basic education locally before later going abroad for his university education.
He has an extensive background in diplomacy and international relations.
His educational background includes studies in linguistics, business, and management in France, the UK, and Canada.
From 1992, he served as head of Arab affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Djibouti and thereafter appointed an ambassador to Egypt in 1997.
In 2001, he returned to his country where he was elected minister-delegate in charge of international cooperation.
In May 2005, he landed the role of minister, a position he holds currently.
If elected, Youssouf has vowed to reform the AUC in terms of personnel, funding and division of tasks between regional economic communities.
He has also expressed his commitment to ensuring the success of the continental free trade, common market for air transport as well as promotion of peace and security.
Youssouf’s agenda is focused on reforming the AUC, advancing continental trade agreements, and enhancing AU relationships with the EU and China.
He has noted that such ties would enable the AU to play a greater role in the international arena.
Additionally, he aims to amplify the voices of youth and women within the AU.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has resolved to back Youssouf something that is likely to give Raila a run for his money.
The resolution was reportedly made by OIC Foreign ministers in Cameroon.
Djibouti’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama posted on X that the ministers adopted the resolution in its session from August 29 to August 30.
At least 27 members of the OIC are from Africa.
Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Mali are, however, suspended from AU.
Voting at the AUC is by secret ballot with the winner set to garner at least two-thirds of the member states.
This is an equivalent of 36 votes from the heads of state from the 55 countries forming the AU.
A key factor that is set to influence the voting pattern in the race is also the language.
There are 21 Francophone (French-speaking) countries in the continent and 24 English-speaking nations.
Djibouti’s main languages are French and Djibouti.
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