Djibouti's Mohamoud Youssouf secures key endorsement from Egypt as AUC chair race hots up
Djibouti has secured backing from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, just days after Kenyan President William Ruto visited Cairo to lobby for Raila Odinga's bid.
Djibouti is in the final phase of mobilising votes for its candidate in the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship race, set for mid-February.
The Horn of Africa nation has nominated its long-serving foreign minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (MAY), to succeed Chad's Moussa Faki—and it is pulling every diplomatic lever to secure the seat.
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In a strategic boost to its campaign, Djibouti has secured backing from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, just days after Kenyan President William Ruto visited Cairo to lobby for Raila Odinga's bid.
Djibouti's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Moussa Mohamed Omar, made the announcement on Sunday evening, posting on X: "This morning, the minister MAY was received by Egyptian President Al-Sisi, another endorsement of his candidacy."
In what appeared to be a pointed jab at Raila Odinga, the Djiboutian spokesperson went further, highlighting their candidate's linguistic advantage.
"After their meeting, he held a press conference in Arabic. A polyglot, he needs no interpreter to engage with African leaders and partners, unlike other candidates."
Raila, accompanied Ruto on his state visit to Cairo last week to seek Egyptian backing.
On X, Raila expressed his gratitude after the trip: "I extend my sincere gratitude to H.E. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt for the warm and gracious welcome," he posted.
He added, "Thank you, President el-Sisi, for your hospitality and for your unwavering support of a united and prosperous Africa."
Arab League, Red Sea Strategy
Djibouti, like Egypt, is a member of the Arab League and is leveraging both bilateral relations and broader Islamic ties to solidify its AUC chair bid.
Djibouti joined the Arab League in 1977, headquartered in Cairo—a historical link that Mahmoud Youssouf's team appears keen to emphasise.
During the meeting between Al-Sisi and Mohamoud, discussions covered Regional security efforts, including Somalia and the Red Sea crisis, cooperation in securing the Bab El Mandeb Strait and restoring stability to Red Sea navigation and the opposition to the U.S. proposal under Donald Trump for the relocation of Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt—a stance that aligns both nations diplomatically.
While Egypt backs Djibouti's AUC bid, it is also pushing its own candidate, Hanan Morsy, for the deputy chairmanship—a role reserved for North Africa and set to be another high-stakes contest.
The deputy race is shaping up to be a geopolitical showdown, with candidates from Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt. With Egypt aligning with Djibouti for the AUC chair and fielding its own for the deputy seat, the dynamics are shifting.
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