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As the newly elected AUC Chairperson, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf faces significant challenges in steering the African Union toward greater self-sufficiency and addressing Africa’s security concerns, In response to President Ruto on Citizen TV Kenya: claiming Africa “lost an opportunity” is dishonest. 33 heads of state chose Mahmoud, the right choice for Africa’s challenges, refusing to let the AU be hostage to Kenyan domestic politics. Africa deserved better than Raila…
Background and Education
—Youssouf was born and raised in Djibouti. He studied business management at the University of Liverpool in 1988.
—He furthered his education with a Master’s degree in management from the University of Laval, Canada, in 1990.
—Additionally, he attended various international training programs, including public management at the National School of Public Management in Canada (1995).
—He also completed English language studies at Oxford University in 1989 and earned a Certificate of Translation in English/French from the Liverpool Business School in 1988.
—His proficiency in Arabic was certified by the Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages in Tunisia in 1988
Diplomatic Career:
—Youssouf’s diplomatic journey began in the 1990s, working at Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he headed the Arab Affairs department.
—In 1997, he was appointed as Djibouti’s Ambassador to Egypt, a role he held until 2001.
—From 2001 to 2005, he served as Minister-Delegate for International Cooperation.
—In 2005, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, a role he held for two decades.
—Youssouf also served as Chairman of the 129th Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League in 2008.
Campaign Focus
—During his campaign, Youssouf emphasized the importance of African countries taking a more active role in ensuring peace and security within the continent.
—He argued that Africa should reduce its dependency on foreign aid for peacekeeping and that the AU’s Peace and Security Council should be more proactive in addressing crises.
Election to AUC Chair
—Youssouf’s candidacy for AUC Chair was seen as a challenge to the more experienced Raila Odinga.
Despite being considered an outside shot, Youssouf emerged victorious, winning the necessary 33 votes in the 7th round after Odinga dropped out in the 6th round.
Challenges and Vision
—Youssouf pointed out that while the African Union has standby forces, these are rarely mobilized due to a lack of resources.
—He noted that financial limitations hinder the success of AU missions and that Africa needs to stop relying on foreign partnerships, such as the EU and UN’s funding of AMISOM since 2007.
