Djibouti is seeking support from Zimbabwe for its candidate, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, for the African Union Commission chairmanship. Minister Youssef, with 20 years of experience, is one of four candidates in contention, and President Mnangagwa has assured support. This follows the AU’s decision to allow Eastern Africa to nominate the next chairperson as part of reforms promoting meritocracy and equitable representation.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe recently met with a special envoy from Djibouti, who reached out to garner support for the candidacy of Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Djibouti’s Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Amina Abidi Aden, conveyed a message from President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh during her visit, emphasizing the importance of securing President Mnangagwa’s backing ahead of the elections scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa next year. Following discussions at State House in Harare, Ms. Aden expressed gratitude for President Mnangagwa’s assurance of support. She highlighted Mr. Youssef’s extensive experience, citing his two decades of service as Foreign Affairs Minister. “Djibouti’s candidate has the requisite experience to lead the African Union Commission and to implement the Agenda 2063 program of the African Commission and we hope that we will get the support of Zimbabwe,” she noted. This election is particularly significant as Minister Youssef is competing against three other candidates: Raila Odinga from Kenya, Fawzia Yusuf Adam from Somalia, and former Seychelles Vice President Vincent Meriton. Moreover, the African Union’s decision earlier this year to allow the Eastern Africa region the right to nominate an AU Commission Chairperson is a reflection of the ongoing institutional reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, meritocracy, and equitable regional representation within its leadership selection processes.
The African Union (AU) Commission chairperson plays a vital role in directing the policies and operations of the AU, which faces multifaceted challenges across the continent. The current chair, Moussa Faki, has held the position since 2017. The recent request for support from Djibouti illustrates the competitive nature of the elections, which involves candidates from various countries across Eastern Africa. Djibouti’s initiative to seek backing from Zimbabwe reflects a strategic diplomatic approach aimed at consolidating regional alliances and support for its candidate. The AU’s institutional reforms, initiated in November 2018, seek to improve leadership selection processes, ensuring they are characterized by transparency and merit-based criteria, while also maintaining gender parity and equitable regional representation.
In summary, Djibouti is actively seeking Zimbabwe’s support for the candidacy of Mahmoud Ali Youssef for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The conversation between President Mnangagwa and Djibouti’s envoy underscores the importance of collaboration among African nations to support qualified candidates for key leadership positions within continental organizations. This election not only represents a competitive race among candidates from various nations but also epitomizes the ongoing reforms within the AU aimed at fostering a fair and transparent electoral process.
Original Source: www.chronicle.co.zw
