The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Before the African Union Chairperson election took place on Saturday, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf was already considered a strong contender by Kenyans.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
Despite being seen as an underdog compared to veteran Raila, Youssouf triumphed, securing the AUC chair seat in a fiercely contested election held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Fluent in French, Arabic, and English, Youssouf’s linguistic skills were viewed as a significant advantage, particularly since French is widely spoken across Africa and is a crucial language in international diplomacy and global forums. This ability likely contributed to his success in the election.
Youssouf secured the necessary 33 votes in the 7th round of voting, after Raila was eliminated in the 6th round. Raila had trailed behind Youssouf in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds, in accordance with the AUC’s rules.
Who is Youssouf?
Before his election as AUC chair, Youssouf served as Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister for two decades, having been appointed to the position in 2005.
Youssouf earned a business management degree from the University of Liverpool in 1988 and a Master’s in Management from the University of Laval in Canada in 1990. He also completed various training programs, including public management education at the National School of Public Management in Canada (1995).
He further pursued an English as a Foreign Language examination at Oxford University in 1989, a Certificate of Translation in English/French from Liverpool Business School (1988), and a proficiency certificate in Arabic from the Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages in Tunisia (1988).
Youssouf’s diplomatic career began in the 1990s when he worked at Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, eventually heading its Arab affairs department. In 1997, he became Djibouti’s Ambassador to Egypt, serving in that role until 2001. He was then appointed Minister-Delegate for International Cooperation in 2001 and served in that capacity until he became Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2005. In 2008, Youssouf chaired the 129th Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Arab League.
His Vision for Africa
In the AUC chair candidates’ debate, “Mjadala Afrika,” held on December 13, 2024, Youssouf outlined his vision for Africa’s future. He emphasized that African nations must take a central role in ensuring peace and security across the continent. He argued that Africa should not rely on external assistance and that a lack of political will has hindered peace efforts.
He criticized the AU’s Peace and Security Council for being reactive rather than proactive, stating that it often only addresses crises after they occur. Youssouf advocated for a shift in this approach, calling for more proactive measures and timely implementation of decisions.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by the AU’s standby forces, which are often not mobilized due to a lack of funding. Youssouf noted that although forces are listed on paper, their deployment is dependent on external financial support, like that from the EU and UN for AMISOM since 2007. He emphasized that adequate financial resources are crucial for successful peacekeeping and mediation efforts.
