Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the foreign minister of Djibouti, has been formally nominated by his country to run for the chair of the African Union Commission. 

Youssouf enters the race alongside Raila Odinga of Kenya and Fawzia Yussuf of Somalia.

The three are running to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat, the outgoing AU Chairperson in his second and final term. 

Following seven voting rounds, Moussa Faki of Chad defeated Amina Mohamed of Kenya to become the new chairperson on January 30, 2017. 


In 2021, he was chosen again for a further four-year term that would expire in 2025. 

The AU Chairperson's Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Executive Officer, and legal representative all report to the Commission Chairperson. 

Executive Council holds him directly accountable for the way he performs his job.