Who is Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the African Union's Newly Elected Chairman?
After two decades of shaping Djibouti's foreign policy, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf plans to strengthen Africa's position amid international polarization.
The newly elected chairperson for the Africa Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf during the 38th African Union (AU) Summit, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa on February 15, 2025.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti's long-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been elected as the new chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Youssouf secured the position on Saturday, Feb. 15, by winning the required two-thirds majority from 49 eligible member states. He defeated former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Madagascar's former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato in the election. He will succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who served two terms as chairperson.
Following his victory, Youssouf took to social media platform X to express his commitment to the role: "I have sworn an oath to serve Africa honestly and with dignity for the next four years. A highly demanding mission." He also acknowledged Kenya's President William Ruto, the AU champion for institutional reform, expressing his honor to work alongside him to advance the continental agenda.The election marks a significant milestone for Djibouti, with President Ismail Omar Guelleh calling it "a historic day for Djibouti and for Djiboutians." Guelleh, who played a crucial role in lobbying for Youssouf's election, emphasized the importance of African unity in his remarks following the election. "If we want to exist on the global scene, if we want to accelerate the process of emergence and development, respond to the aspirations of our populations and our youth, we must act for peace and integration, act to strengthen our cohesion," he stated.
Youssouf brings extensive diplomatic experience to the position, having served as Djibouti's Foreign Minister since 2005. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in shaping Djibouti's international relations, particularly in managing the country's strategic partnerships with global powers. His achievements include maintaining and strengthening the U.S. presence at Camp Lemonnier, which became America's largest African base in 2013, and facilitating China's establishment of its first overseas military base in 2017. These diplomatic efforts have attracted significant investment to Djibouti, including a $3 billion Chinese investment in 2021 to expand the Doraleh Container Terminal.
What's next for the African Union?
As he prepares to take office on March 15, 2025, Youssouf has outlined an ambitious vision for the African Union. In a recent interview with Human Village, he emphasized the need for Africa to strengthen its position in an increasingly polarized world. "We live in a world that is becoming polarized, and this polarization has names: BRICS, NATO, the European Union, the Indo-Pacific, and so on," he said. "I believe that the global South needs to organize itself and defend its interests in the same way as the other entities that are putting themselves on the same footing."
His agenda focuses on several key priorities, including strengthening Africa's role in global geopolitics, promoting continental unity, and ensuring regional peace. Youssouf has expressed particular commitment to advancing Africa's economic sovereignty by implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area and improving infrastructure to enhance intra-African trade.
Youth engagement is another crucial aspect of his vision. "Young people are connected, up to date, and full of ideas to spare! So I think we need to listen to them and, wherever possible, implement these ideas," he stated.
Among the immediate challenges facing the new chairperson are ongoing security issues across the continent, particularly in the Sahel, the Great Lakes region, and the Horn of Africa. In the same interview, Youssouf acknowledged the complexity of these long-standing conflicts, noting that "chronic problems" require long-term solutions. He emphasized the importance of African-led solutions, stating, "If we are to make a proper diagnosis and try to resolve African problems with African solutions, Africa, the Commission, specialized institutions and associated mechanisms must work with the States in conflict to bring them closer together."
