The competition to secure the role of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) is escalating as Djibouti nominates their Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Youssouf, as a candidate for the position.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Djibouti expressed confidence in Youssouf's candidacy, citing his extensive experience as Minister of Foreign Affairs spanning over two decades. The statement highlighted Djibouti's commitment to peace and conflict resolution through dialogue and negotiation, emphasizing Youssouf's fluency in French, English, and Arabic as a testament to his qualifications.

Youssouf's entry into the race adds pressure to Kenya's Raila Odinga, who is also vying for the position. Odinga now faces the challenge of garnering support from other African leaders to bolster his candidacy.

Another contender in the race is Somalia’s former deputy prime minister and current member of the Federal Parliament, Fawzia Yusuf.

The AU Executive Council recently ratified a decision to designate Eastern Africa as the region to produce the next chairperson, while the Deputy Chairperson will hail from Northern Africa.

The election to select the successor to Chad's Moussa Faki, the current chairperson, is scheduled for 2025, marking the conclusion of his two-term tenure.

Odinga has already secured endorsements from eight heads of state, including Kenya's William Ruto, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. Additionally, leaders such as Tanzania's Mama Suluhu, South Sudan's Salva Kiir, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Félix Tshisekedi have pledged their support to Odinga's candidacy.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has also thrown his weight behind Odinga, further intensifying the competition for the prestigious AUC chairpersonship.