Amid rapidly-growing uncertainty and challenges, the mid-February election of the African Union Commission’s chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, during the summit in Addis Ababa, signifies the collective commitment to fostering continental unity, coordinate development and economic growth for Africa. Beyond that, to position Africa for making the most anticipated influence on the changing global stage.
On February 16, Djibouti’s foreign minister, Mahmoud Youssouf emerged the winner of the keenly contested election, defeating Kenya’s former prime minister, Raila Odinga, and Madagascar’s former foreign minister, Richard Randriamato. It, therefore, means that Youssouf, who will serve a four-year term, has replaced Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who held the position for two terms from 2017 to 2025.
Under the new AU leadership for the next four years, the widely expectations are that there will be, some sort of, strategic policies to reshape especially the entire Africa’s economic system, to drastically address development largely from inside rather than maintaining the status quo, over-dependence on foreign financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Let me underline the fact that at this critical moment, particularly with the current changing geopolitical situation, economic development strategists have reiterated in several reports over the past few years, arguing that Africa’s cutting-edge roadmap must encompass people-centered reforms, probity and accountability, better system of governance, and providing better living conditions. That there must also be the need to take significant steps toward economic integration and collaboration as stipulated in the African Agenda 2063.
The experts emphasized, and at the same time, advocated for the return to ‘Silencing the Guns’ slogan, must extend beyond rhetoric, in order to secure relative peace in conflict-torn regions and a number African countries engulfed in consistent wars, in particular ethnic disputes which adversely impact on sustainable development and contributed to tremendous displacement of millions of civilian people.
Most of the pertinent related questions were already raised during the African Union leadership debates (Mjadala Afrika Leadership Debate) last year involving the four candidates listed for the position of AUC chairperson. The commonality in the discussions included pressing issues ranging from economic integration and regional security to Africa’s representation in global forums, and also gave a glimpse into the priorities and leadership styles of those vying for the prestigious role.
Raila Odinga, Kenya’s veteran politician and former prime minister, passionately highlighted the potential of Africa’s internal markets. “We have a huge domestic market that we must prioritize,” Odinga asserted during the debate, envisioning a future where African economies thrive through intra-African trade and value addition. His vision included investing in education, health, and industrialisation to position Africa as a competitive global player.
Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato pointed to existing regional economic blocs, such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), as vital mechanisms for facilitating trade. He called for an inclusive approach that strengthens partnerships among African nations to eliminate trade barriers and maximize economic opportunities.
The candidates recognised the critical need to address peace and security if Africa is to achieve sustainable development. Youssouf underscored the importance of unity in tackling regional conflicts. “When there is no unity of purpose among neighbouring countries, peace will be compromised,” he warned. He proposed bolstering the AU’s standby force, reducing reliance on foreign powers, and empowering African nations to take charge of their security. Through innovation and investment in infrastructure, energy and resource-efficient solutions, the private sector will have a major role to play in the transformation of Africa, according to Youssouf’s opinion and argument, while finally underscored the long-term steps for economic and social transformation as envisioned under Agenda 2063.
With the AU Chairperson’s election ended mid-February 2025, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has to focus on the continent’s aspirations. The AUC has tackle the existing challenges and capitalize on trajectory of opportunities, with well-crafted but also actionable measures, to change the continent under the “Africa We Want” during the four-year period 2025 t0 2028.
As explained by Ghana’s President John Mahama, in his speech at the summit, despite a number of achievements Africa’s economic journey still has complex challenges. According to his assessment, “structural transformation remains uneven, with many economies still reliant on low-productivity sectors. The continent continues to face challenges such as climate issues, geopolitical tensions, widening gaps in multilateralism, and diseases and pandemics that disrupt the positive growth path.”
In order to achieve sustainable development, Mahama explain the challenge, therefore, as taking serious measures to mobilize domestic and African resources effectively, reducing dependency on traditional external financing, and charting a path toward self-reliance and sustainable growth. With the new leadership, the African Union Commission must engage in capacity building, restructure institutions to address such areas as trade, investment, and bridge the development gaps across the continent. The AUC has the take up the responsibility to strengthen them to ensure that the institutions can effectively contribute to the continent’s transformation and the realization of Agenda 2063.
Across Africa, there have been buzzing narratives and renewals to step up economic transformations, responsibly guard against foreign exploitative tendencies towards the continent’s untapped natural resources, engage in a more refined approach with external investment partners. While these will remain as mere rhetoric or appropriately tectonic geopolitical noise on the global stage, Africa is recognizably the least developed region in the world. The outlook shows that it lags behind on the UN’s sustainable development goals. Paradoxically, Africa has huge resources both natural and human, but wrapped with its own distinctive complexities and contradictions, grossly unsuccessful enough in providing sustainable development. With estimated population of 1.5 billion people, more than 60% live in abject poverty.
Now taken the baton as the head the AUC’s secretariat and his new team has the key responsibility for implementing AU policies and decisions, remove gamut of barriers and straighten pathways for playing ‘the catch-up’ with development. The AU, considered as 55-member organization, has to tone down scathing remarks on negative impacts inflicted by imperialism, neocolonialism and western hegemony. With this new chapter in the history of AU, the newly-elected AUC chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, together with African leaders must provide diverse perspectives on their own theories of democracy, economic development and socio-cultural issues that are deemed unique to Africa. And be reminded of the primary objectives including accelerating the economic and political integration of the African continent, and stipulated in the AU agenda 2063.
