February 16, 2025(ADDIS ABABA) – The election of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson sparked intense political manoeuvring, last-minute alliances, and unexpected shifts in stance during the voting rounds held on Saturday at the continental summit. Following their election, the newly appointed Chairperson, Mahmoud Youssif and his deputy, Malika Salma Haddadi, were sworn in before the General Assembly of African Heads of State and Government, which convened in a plenary session on Saturday. Youssef is set to officially assume office as Chairperson of the African Union on March 15 for a four-year term, succeeding Moussa Faki of Chad, who has held the position for the past eight years. After the results were announced, Djiboutian President Ismaïl Guelleh stated that his country extends a hand of cooperation to all Africans and all AU teams to strengthen unity and solidarity across the continent. Meanwhile, newly elected Deputy Chairperson Malika Salma Haddadi emphasized in a press statement that her victory represents Algeria’s growing influence in African affairs, affirming that “Algeria is the heart of Africa.” Observers anticipate a challenging tenure for Youssef, especially with escalating crises in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside other pressing issues in …

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