Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Defeats Raila Odinga to Win AUC Chair – See Full Results
In a tightly contested election, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti was elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) in seven rounds of voting.
Youssouf was elected on February 15, 2025, during the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after beating Kenya’s Raila Odinga, who had withdrawn after round six.
The election needed a candidate to secure a two-thirds majority, at least 33 votes.
The Three Contenders for The AUC Chairmanship
- Mahamoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti): Djibouti’s long-serving Foreign Minister and long-time diplomat.
- Raila Odinga (Kenya): Former Prime Minister of Kenya
- Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar): Former Foreign Minister of Madagascar.
AUC Election Voting Rounds and Full Results
First Round:
Raila Odinga: 20 votes
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf: 18 votes
Richard Randriamandrato: 10 votes
Abstention: 1
Second Round:
Raila Odinga: 22 votes
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf: 19 votes
Richard Randriamandrato: 7 votes
Abstention: 1
Third Round:
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf: 23 votes
Raila Odinga: 20 votes
Richard Randriamandrato: 5 votes
Abstention: 1
Fourth Round:
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf: 25 votes
Raila Odinga: 21 votes
Richard Randriamandrato: Dropped out
Abstention: 2
Spoilt vote: 1
Fifth Round:
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf: 26 votes
Raila Odinga: 21 votes
Abstention: 2
Sixth Round:
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf: 26 votes
Raila Odinga: 22 votes
Abstention: 1
At this stage, Raila Odinga withdrew from the race, acknowledging that he would not be able to secure the required votes.
This paved the way for a final seventh round, where Mahamoud Ali Youssouf won with 33 votes, securing the necessary two-thirds majority.
What’s Next?
With the election concluded, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf will officially assume office as AUC Chairperson in March 2025.
His term will be closely watched as Africa tackles pressing issues, including economic disparities, regional conflicts, and geopolitical challenges.
