ECOWAS President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray Joins African Union Summit as Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Assumes AU Chairperson.
By Raymond Enoch
In a significant historic gathering of the African Union leaders, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, participated in the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, February 15, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit marked a pivotal moment with the election of Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, as the new Chairperson of the AU Commission.
Youssouf, who has served as Djibouti’s Foreign Minister since 2005, secured the chairmanship after a competitive election, succeeding Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat, who completed an eight-year tenure. The election process saw Youssouf emerge victorious over notable contenders, including Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato. In his pre-election address, Youssouf emphasized his commitment to strengthening the AU’s Peace and Security Council, operationalizing the African Standby Force, ensuring stable financing for the union, boosting intra-African trade, and promoting the free movement of goods and people across the continent.
The summit also witnessed a leadership transition in the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, with H.E. João Lourenço, President of Angola, assuming the chairmanship of AU.
This change signifies a continued dedication to addressing the continent’s pressing challenges through collaborative leadership.
Dr. Touray’s presence at the summit underscores ECOWAS’s ongoing commitment to regional integration and cooperation within the broader African framework. The ECOWAS delegation, comprising Commissioner Abdel Fatau Musah and other key staff members, actively engaged in discussions aimed at fostering peace, security, and economic development across the continent.
The 38th AU Assembly convened under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” focusing on advancing reparatory justice and fostering racial healing. This theme reflects the AU’s dedication to addressing historical injustices and promoting equitable development for all African peoples.
As the AU embarks on this new chapter under the leadership of Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Assembly Chairperson João Lourenço, member states and regional bodies like ECOWAS are poised to collaborate closely in pursuit of the continent’s collective aspirations for peace, prosperity, and unity.
