The President of MAAUN Group of Universities, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has endorsed Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as AU Chairperson.

The African Union Commission election, which is scheduled for February 2025, has three candidates vying for the Chairperson position: Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti, Raila Amolo Odinga of Kenya, and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.

In a courtesy call to Gwarzo in his office on Saturday, the Director of the Pan-African School of Diplomacy, Salifu Diouf, said they decided to visit him to appreciate his contribution to scholarship and support for the less privileged in Africa.

On his part, Professor Gwarzo, who was once the President of the Protection Rights of Journalists in Africa, used the opportunity to call on them to support the candidature of Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as the next Chairperson of the African Union.

“This is the time to support someone who has Africa at heart, who can unite the continent for prosperity.

“You can see what is happening in Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and some other countries. The current chairperson, Moussa Faki, has failed in uniting Africa and in bringing positive changes, but with the likes of Youssouf from Djibouti, things will change for the betterment of the African continent.

“This is someone who has the experience. He is a Djiboutian diplomat. He has served in the government of Djibouti as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2005. He is applying for a job for which he is qualified. I’m therefore appealing to all of you here to rally your support for Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,” Gwarzo said.

The new chair will be elected at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2025 by the AU Assembly via a secret ballot.

Past chairpersons have hailed from the western, central, and southern regions of the African Union. The AU Executive Council has asserted the right of the East African region to produce the next chairperson, and North Africa will therefore vie for the deputy chairperson post.