The President of MAAUN Group of Universities, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has declared his support for Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti as the next Chairperson of the African Union (AU).
The African Union Commission election, set for February 2025, will feature Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti, Raila Amolo Odinga of Kenya, and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar as candidates.
During a courtesy visit to Professor Gwarzo on Saturday, the Director of the Pan African School of Diplomacy, Salifu Diouf, recognized Gwarzo’s contributions to education and his advocacy for the underprivileged across Africa.
In his remarks, Professor Gwarzo highlighted Mahmoud Ali Youssouf’s qualifications for the role and his potential to address pressing challenges on the continent.
“This is the time to support someone who has Africa at heart, who can unite the continent for prosperity. You can see what is happening in Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and some other countries. The current chairperson, Moussa Faki, has failed in uniting Africa and bringing positive changes. But with the likes of Youssouf from Djibouti, things will change for the betterment of the African continent,” Gwarzo said.
He further stated, “This is someone who has the experience. He is a Djiboutian diplomat and has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2005. He is applying for a job which he is qualified for. I’m therefore appealing to all of you here to rally your support for Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.”
The new AU Chairperson will be elected at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2025 through a secret ballot by the AU Assembly.
The AU Executive Council has affirmed the right of the East African region to produce the next Chairperson, with the North African region expected to vie for the Deputy Chairperson post.
