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Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to endorse Fawzia Yusuf for AUC chair

From left Kenya’s Raila Odinga, Former Somalia Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam and Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf are seeking to replace Moussa Faki as AUC chair for the period 2025–2028. (Photo: Handout)

By Mwangi Maina | 03 May 2024

Somalia's Fawzia Yusuf Fawzia believes she has a good chance of winning the contest against Kenya's Raila Odinga.

Former Somalia Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam, has received a major boost in her quest to be elected as Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the period 2025-2028.

In a communiqué issued by Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which represents nearly 30 states from Africa, pledged to back Fawzia.

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"OIC will endorse Somalia's nomination of Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the period starting 2025 to 2028," read a dispatch from the ministry.

Fawzia, a current member of parliament, believes she has a good chance of winning the contest pitting her against Kenya's Raila Odinga, leader of the opposition outfit Azimio la Umoja coalition and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, also seeks to replace the current AUC chair, Moussa Faki.

Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam

Fawzia, born in Somaliland, was Somalia's first female deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister.

She also wrote history when she became the first woman to lead a political party in one of the world's most patriarchal countries after she formed the NBD (Peace, Democracy and Prosperity Party).

Fawzia also ran for the presidency in Somaliland in 2010 but her party was delisted by then-President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo.

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Thousands of dignitaries from across the Muslim world, including Somalia, will converge in The Gambia this weekend for the 15th edition of the Islamic Summit of Heads of State and Governments, organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

According to the dispatch, Somali foreign minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi participated in the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers for the 15th session of the Muslim bloc in Banjul on Thursday.

The theme of this year's summit is "promoting unity and solidarity through dialogue for sustainable development."

This year’s summit is expected to deliberate on critical political matters affecting the Islamic world, with a key focus on the Palestinian issue.

Matters concerning the rejection of hate speech and islamophobia, the promotion of dialogue, as well as climate change and food security, will be discussed.

According to the statement, the draft communique will also "firmly reject any actions that infringe upon Somalia's sovereignty, such as the illicit memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and the northwestern Somali region of Somaliland."

Interestingly, Djibouti, which has fronted its foreign minister for the AUC commission role, is also a member state of the bloc.