Three candidates are in the race: Kenya’s Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato. Experts believe the real competition is between Raila and Youssouf.
Who is Mahmoud Ali Youssouf?
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf is the Foreign Affairs Minister of Djibouti. He has served in this role since 2005, making him one of the longest-serving ministers in Africa.
He was born on September 2, 1965, and has vast experience in diplomacy and governance.
Youssouf studied in Canada and earned a Master’s degree in Management from the University of Laval in 1990. He has also taken training in public management and language studies. His career includes:
- Deputy Director of the Directorate for International Organizations (1993-1995)
- Director of the Department for the Arab World (1996-1997)
- Ambassador to Egypt (1997-2001)
- Minister Delegate for International Cooperation (2001-2005)
Since 2005, Youssouf has been Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister and the government spokesperson.
He has built strong relationships with world leaders and has played a big role in peace efforts in the region.
The AU election is expected to be competitive. Some reports suggested that Youssouf might drop out of the race, but he has denied these claims and confirmed he is still running.
Political analysts believe the race is mainly between Youssouf and Raila Odinga. Raila, a former Kenyan Prime Minister, previously served as the AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure.
Raila Odinga is a well-known politician in Africa. He has served as Kenya’s Prime Minister and played a key role in the country’s politics. He also worked as the AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure, where he promoted economic development projects across the continent.
Raila has outlined his vision for Africa, promising to improve economic integration, peace, and development if elected as AU Chairperson.
His campaign has gained strong support from Kenyan leaders and other African politicians.
The AU Commission Chairperson is responsible for leading the AU and managing its projects. The role includes overseeing policy implementation, coordinating with African leaders, and working on international partnerships.
The position comes with a monthly salary of $15,576 and full education sponsorship for the officeholder’s children.
To win the election, a candidate must secure two-thirds of the votes from African heads of state.
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