Mahmoud Youssouf emerges AU Commission chairman

The African Union Commission (AUC) has elected Mr. Mahmoud Youssouf of Djibouti, Eastern Region, as Chairperson of the Commission for a four-year mandate, which is renewable once.

He will be deputized by Selma Haddadi of Algeria, Northern Region, following the elections governed by the AU Assembly Rules of Procedure and the AU Commission Statutes.

The commission disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the two leaders were elected and sworn in at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held from Feb. 15 to 16, 2025.

The elections for the Chairperson and Deputy-Chairperson took place after the election and appointment of the AU Commission Commissioners during the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Feb. 12, 2025.

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The elected Commissioners will serve for a four-year term, which is renewable once, with four out of the six available Commissioner positions filled.

According to the statement, both Youssouf and Haddadi received the required two-thirds majority votes from the 49 eligible AU member states, with six states under sanctions and unable to vote.

“The AUC clarified that a Panel of Eminent Africans, composed of one representative from each of Africa’s five regions, oversees the pre-selection of candidates for senior AU leadership positions.

“The process for selecting Commissioners is based on skills and competencies specific to each portfolio.”

It said Youssouf, who is 60 years old and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, succeeds Mr Moussa Faki of Chad, Central Region, who served two consecutive terms since 2017.

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Youssouf has previously held leadership positions, including Chairperson of the Arab League Council of Ministers and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Youssouf competed against former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato.

In line with the principle of gender rotation, after the election of Youssouf as Chairperson, only female candidates were eligible for the Deputy-Chairperson position.

Selma Haddadi won the position, competing against Ms. Latifah Akharbach (Morocco), Ms. Hanan Morsy (Egypt), and Ms. Najat Elhajjaji (Libya), with the Libyan candidate withdrawing.

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In addition to the leadership elections, the Commission re-elected Amb. Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria (Western Region) to head the Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) department and Mr Moses Vilakati of Eswatini (Southern Region) to head the Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) department.

Ms. Lerato Mataboge of South Africa (Southern Region) was elected Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, while Amb. Amma Twum-Amoah of Ghana (Western Region) was appointed Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development (HHS).

The elections for the Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Mining (ETTIM) and Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) were postponed.

As a result, incumbent Commissioners Amb. Albert Muchanga and Prof. Mohammed Belhocine will continue in their roles until new elections are held.