Djibouti candidate for AUC chair highlights Africa's trade, security challenges ahead of polls

The African Union (AU) is preparing to elect a new Chairperson for the Commission as the current Chair, Moussa Faki, concludes his term in February 2025.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, Djibouti's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, discussed key issues shaping Africa's future, including trade, infrastructure, regional integration, and peace and security.

A major focus of the discussion was the state of trade within Africa.

Despite several flagship programs aimed at boosting trade, intra-African trade remains low at about 17%.

Mahamoud, a foreign minister since 2005 emphasised the crucial role of infrastructure development in enhancing trade and highlighted Djibouti's experience with Chinese investment in ports, railways, and free trade zones as examples of how infrastructure can facilitate trade.

"There are so many flagship programs on the continent that we can contemplate the future with optimism," he said during the interview.

He pointed out that partnerships, particularly with countries like China, have been instrumental in improving connectivity and promoting economic activity.

"We are keen on diversifying our partnership and China is the most constructive and most important one," the Djiboutian top diplomat noted, adding that "prospects are very good."

He also addressed the African Union's role in advancing trade and regional integration.

He stressed the importance of effectively implementing frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and tackling both customs and non-customs barriers to trade.

"The biggest obstacle to this is lack of proper infrastructure," the minister said.

He noted that peace and security challenges in various regions can hinder trade, and these issues must be addressed for trade to flourish.

Mahamoud further underscored the role of regional economic communities (RECs) in driving integration, acknowledging that progress varies across different regions.

The conversation also covered the need for regional stability to attract investment across Africa.

Minister Mahamoud outlined the African Union's peace and security framework, which includes mechanisms such as the Peace and Security Council and regional standby forces designed to manage conflicts.

He highlighted ongoing challenges in conflict-prone areas like the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region, and the Sahel, and called for innovative approaches and stronger efforts to meet the AU's goal of 'silencing the guns' by 2030.

Overall, Minister Mahamoud's insights highlighted the interconnected factors affecting Africa's economic development, including the importance of infrastructure, regional integration, and peace and security.

As Africa looks to a future of greater trade, connectivity, and stability, the leadership of the African Union and its member states will be crucial in shaping the continent's economic trajectory.