At the 13th African Union Summit, held on 15 and 16 February 2025 in Addis Ababa, the continent’s Heads of State elected Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, as President of the African Union Commission (AU). The elections, which took place on Saturday 15 February, required seven rounds of voting, in which he obtained 33 votes out of 49. At 59 years old, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf succeeded Moussa Faki Mahamat, whose second term will end on 15 March 2025. A veteran diplomat, he has held the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti since 2005, after having served as Ambassador to Egypt from 1997 to 2001. With three decades of diplomatic experience, he has played a central role in the management of numerous regional crises and in the strengthening of his country’s international relations. Djibouti’s candidacy for this strategic post had been officially filed in April 2024, reflecting the country’s ambition to play a more influential role on the continental stage. With this election, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf takes the helm of a key institution, responsible for coordinating the policies and initiatives of the African Union in matters of governance, development and security. Its mandate opens in a particularly delicate context, marked by several critical challenges. L’instabilité politique en Afrique de l’Ouest, exacerbée par la montée des régimes militaires et les transitions démocratiques fragiles.. Les conflits persistants dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo, où les tensions entre groupes armés et forces gouvernementales menacent la stabilité régionale.. L’intégration économique du continent, notamment la mise en œuvre de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf). Le changement climatique et ses répercussions sur les économies africaines, nécessitant une réponse coordonnée pour renforcer la résilience des États membres.. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has affirmed his will to strengthen peace and security on the continent, promoting a better regional integration and a sustainable development. The African Union is committed to supporting the efforts of the African Union and its Member States to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. His election constitutes a significant step forward for the African Union, which seeks to address the current political and security challenges with a more proactive and concerted approach.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf at the head of the African Union: a mandate under high tension
