ADDIS ABABA (SD) – Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, has won the election for Chairperson of the African Union (AU) after a highly contested vote concluded at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

He secured 33 votes in the seventh round, defeating Raila Odinga, Kenya’s former Prime Minister, who was eliminated in the sixth round.

Other candidates included Richard Randriamandrato, Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister.
Youssouf will replace Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad.

Niger, Mali, Guinea, Gabon, Burkina Faso, and Sudan were barred from voting due to military coups and ongoing conflicts.

Eswatini won the position overseeing agriculture, rural development, the blue economy, and the environment, defeating Congo-Brazzaville.

South Africa secured 41 votes to lead the energy and infrastructure office.