Mahmoud Ali Yusuf
Who was elected as the new chairperson of the African Union Commission?
Mahmoud Ali Yusuf of Djibouti was elected as the new chairperson of the African Union Commission, defeating prominent candidates including Raila Odinga, a former Prime Minister of Kenya, and Richard Randriya Mandrato, an ex-Foreign Minister of Madagascar. The election was a key agenda item at the AU summit, which focused on filling senior leadership positions within the AU Commission, including the Chairperson, deputy chairperson, and six commissioners. The year 2024 was particularly busy for the union, with intense lobbying among the three candidates for this influential position that will shape Africa's leadership on the global stage.
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WION
01:28 - 01:57
What challenges does Mahmoud Ali Yusuf face as the new head of the African Union Commission?
Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, who has been Djibouti's foreign affairs minister since 2005, inherits significant security challenges across the continent as the new AU Commission head. These range from the rise of military juntas in West Africa to violent conflicts in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels have recently captured two major cities. The African Union faces mounting criticism for perceived inaction and inadequate responses to armed conflicts throughout the continent. As Yusuf steps into this leadership role, he must address these criticisms while developing more effective approaches to the various security crises threatening stability in different regions of Africa.
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03:23 - 03:52
Who was elected to head the African Union's Executive Commission and how did he secure the position?
Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, Djibouti's long-serving foreign minister since 2005, was elected to head the African Union's Executive Commission. He secured this prestigious position by winning the required support of two-thirds of the region's leaders during the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Despite running a relatively low-profile campaign against more prominent candidates like Kenya's Raila Odinga, Yusuf's diplomatic experience and longevity in international relations helped him secure this critical leadership role representing 1.5 billion Africans. His appointment comes at a challenging time for the continent, with issues including military unrest in West Africa and conflicts in Eastern Congo.
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00:00 - 00:18