Somaliland leader Abdirahman Irro has congratulated Djibouti foreign minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on his election as the new African Union Commission chairperson.
Youssouf won the required support of two-thirds of the region’s leaders in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to secure the post representing some 1.5 billion Africans across the continent.
Mahamoud won the AUC Chair seat after garnering 33 votes, constituting the required two-thirds, in round 7. He will replace the outgoing Moussa Faki of Chad who has held the position for 8 years.
The 59-year-old was deemed an outside shot against veteran Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, but observers praised the career the diplomat’s low-key campaign to succeed Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat and head the pan-African bloc.
“Congratulations to the government and the people of Djibouti who are our brothers,” Irro said in a statement.
He added: “On behalf of the government and the citizens of the Republic of Somaliland, I am sending my heartfelt congratulations to the government and the people of Djibouti who are congratulating the historical success they have made by the executive leadership of the African Union.”
He said: “This historic victory is a witness to the increasing diplomatic impact that Djibouti has on the continent of Africa and how Djiboutia is determined to develop the cooperation of the continent. The government of Djiboutina is a country that is dedicated to improving the interests between the countries and the cemetery of Africa.”
Irro said that between Somaliland Republic and Djibouti there is brotherly ties and historical ties, “and I am confident that the leadership of Djibuti will lead the African union to development, peace, economy and community.”
“Again, I congratulate the government and the people of Djibouti for this historic victory. I wish Djibouti to succeed in taking this important position that they were elected for.,”