The fact that Raila Odinga from Kenya lost the bid to become the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, there has been speculations regarding the unity among East African Community members accused of not exerting much support to the regional candidate.
In the end, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s long-serving Foreign Minister, was eventually elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) following a competitive election.
After winning the race, Youssouf now wants the African Union to address the state of unrest on the continent, citing the DR Congo conflict and the war in Sudan.
Odinga is yet to comment on the outcome of the voting exercise.
The polls were held during the 38th Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa.
Raila who previously contested for the presidency in Kenya’s 2022 General Elections had started the race at AUC polls on the lead before tables turned at the last minute.
Securing 33 votes in the final round, Youssouf’s surprising victory now marks a significant diplomatic milestone for Djibouti and ushers in a new era for the African Union.
Apparently, Raila Odinga, was unsuccessful in his attempt for the top continental position, despite leading in the initial rounds of voting.
The election process, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, witnessed several rounds of voting before Youssouf emerged as the winner.
In the first round, however, Odinga garnered 20 votes, followed closely by Youssouf with 18 votes, while Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato secured 10 votes.
One country abstained from voting.
Again during the second round, Odinga increased his tally to 22 votes, Youssouf received 19 votes, and Randriamandrato got 7 votes, with one nation still abstaining.
The third round saw Youssouf take the lead for the first time with 23 votes, while Odinga garnered 20 votes and Randriamandrato dropped to 5 votes.
Now, with one country abstaining, Randriamandrato was eliminated from the race, leaving Odinga and Youssouf in a direct contest.
Youssouf maintained the lead in the fourth round, securing 25 votes against Odinga’s 21, while one vote was spoiled and one country abstained.
In the fifth round, Youssouf kept his lead with 26 votes, while Odinga remained at 21 votes, and one nation abstained.
The trend was sustained in the sixth round, with Youssouf securing 26 votes and Odinga gaining 22 votes, while one country abstained once more.
With Odinga eliminated after the sixth round, Youssouf was the sole candidate in the seventh round, needing to secure a two-thirds majority. He clinched victory with 33 votes, reaching the required threshold to be declared the new AUC Chairperson.
Youssouf is set to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki, who has held the position for the past eight years. His election signals a new direction for the African Union as he takes on the responsibilities of steering the commission forward.