Djibouti’s entry into AU chairperson race divides eastern Africa vote
Azimio leader Raila Odinga during a press briefing in Nairobi on March 8, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga and Somalia’s Fawzia Adam in the race.
- Youssouf, 59, has served in Djibouti's Foreign Ministry since the 1990s.
Two key blocs in the eastern Africa region will be divided during next year's vote for the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
This is after Djibouti officially confirmed it was fronting its Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf as a candidate for the position.
Djibouti's Youssouf now becomes the third prospective candidate in AUC's top job.
Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga and Somalia’s former Foreign Minister Fawzia Adam announced their candidature earlier.
Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia belong to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, with the other member States being Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and Eritrea.
Sudan is suspended from taking part in African Union activities for now and is ineligible to vote following the coup in October 2021.
Kenya and Somalia also belong to the East African Community (EAC), which also includes Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
In ordinary circumstances, they usually coalesce around one candidate to raise their chances. Sometimes it is not always the case.
Until rules were changed to allow rotation of posts, these countries often went for each other’s turfs.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame (right) with Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga in Kigali on March 8, 2024.
In 2017, Kenya fronted a candidate for AUC chairperson’s position and Djibouti went for the deputy, a sure way of dividing the vote as each looked for support from the same allies who were also seeking other positions and hence needed trade-offs.
Claims of “betrayal” eventually emerged from Nairobi after Kenya’s then Cabinet Secretray for Foreign Affairs, Amina Mohamed, lost to Chadian diplomat Mahamat Faki.
However, Djibouti would late issue a statement refuting claims of giving its vote to another candidate.
The three candidates, nonetheless, offer each of these countries a chance to hunt for votes from other blocs not eligible for the position.
The Deputy Chair's position will go to the north, while three other regions; south, west, and central will contest the remaining positions.
Youssouf, 59, a multilingual Djiboutian has served in Djibouti's Foreign Ministry since the 1990s.
Djibouti said Youssouf's experience in diplomatic work gives him an edge over his competitors, adding that their candidate is ready to breathe new life into the pan-African organisation.
The career diplomat's campaign team includes some regional political experts, including, incidentally, a veteran Somali diplomat.
Kenya has already embarked on shuttle diplomacy, led by a team drawn from both President William Ruto’s side and Mr Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja Coalition.
President Ruto and Mr Odinga have sought the support of EAC Heads of State and government as well as others beyond the bloc, the latest being President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.
The campaign, however, is set to officially commence next month once all interested candidates submit their applications.
The elections will be held in February 2025, with the elected chair serving a four-year term renewable once.
Djibouti has challenged Kenya before in international elections when it bid for the UN Security Council membership even after the AU had endorsed Nairobi for the non-permanent position.
Djibouti would lose in the second round after Kenya garnered the required two-thirds majority vote for the seat for 2021-22 term.
This year, Djibouti has not bid for the position, which is open for the eastern Africa region again.
Instead, Somalia received the AU endorsement to go ahead with campaigns for the June 2024 vote, for the 2025-26 term.
