AU Archives - Kaab TV

Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Elected AU Commission Chair After Intense Vote

Kaab TV News Editor — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:55:33 +0000

ADDIS ABABA (Kaab TV) – Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has emerged as the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission after a tense seven-round voting process.

Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga initially led in the first two rounds, but Youssouf gained momentum and secured 33 votes in the sixth round, while Odinga received 22.

This prompted Odinga to withdraw from the race, allowing Youssouf to secure the required two-thirds majority.

Out of AU’s 49 voting member states, two abstained in the final round, with one consistently abstaining throughout the secret ballot.

With this victory, Youssouf takes over as the new head of the AU Commission, steering the continental body through its next term.

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Senior Israeli diplomat ejected from African Union summit as row escalates

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 13:22:41 +0000

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – A senior Israeli diplomat on Saturday was removed from the African Union’s annual summit in Ethiopia, as a dispute over Israel’s accreditation to the bloc escalated.

Images posted online showed AU security personnel confronting the diplomat during the opening ceremony of the summit, before she left the auditorium.

“Israel looks harshly upon the incident in which the deputy director for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was removed from the African Union hall despite her status as an accredited observer with entrance badges,” the foreign ministry said.

Ebba Kalondo, the spokesperson for the African Union’s commission chairman, said the diplomat had been removed because she was not the duly accredited Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, the official who was expected.

But Israel blamed the incident on South Africa and Algeria, two key nations in the 55-country bloc, saying they were holding the AU hostage and were driven by “hate”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the charge d’affaires at South Africa’s embassy would be summoned for a reprimand.

“The attempt to cancel Israel’s observer status has no basis in the organization’s laws,” the ministry said.

South Africa rejected the claim, saying Israel’s application for observer status at the AU has not been decided upon by the bloc.

“Until the AU takes a decision on whether to grant Israel observer status, you cannot have the country sitting and observing,” Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy in South Africa’s department of international relations, told Reuters.

“So, it’s not about South Africa or Algeria, it’s an issue of principle.”

South Africa’s ruling party has historically been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.

The Algerian delegation at the summit was not immediately available for a comment.

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AU forces announce a joint military operation against Al-Shabaab

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 17:16:02 +0000

MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said they will initiate a new military offensive against the militant group al-Shabaab alongside the Somali forces.

The Head of ATMIS Ambassador Mohammed El-Amine Souef who is also the African Union (AU) special representative for Somalia stated the commitment of between the federal government of Somalia and ATMIS to pursuing joint military collaboration in the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab in south and central Somalia.

Ambassador Souef reiterated ATMIS’ continued support to the Somali Security Forces in the ongoing military operations against Al-Shabab.

“ATMIS is supporting the ongoing operations in terms of logistics. We are using our air assets, our enablers to provide air support and also provide medical evacuation at the frontline,” said the Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Souef.

He saluted the political will demonstrated by the national leaders led by the President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is directly involved in the ongoing Somali-led operations against Al-Shabaab and continues to visit the frontline.

The AU diplomat also welcomed the groundswell of opposition against Al-Shabaab, and the support the Somali National Army (SNA) is receiving from the local communities, which has made possible the liberation of territories under Al-Shabaab control.

“Somalis feel that their number one enemy is Al-Shabaab. and that is why the SNA is getting a lot of support from the people who are on the ground and the Federal Member States,” Ambassador Souef observed.

In the ongoing reconciliation efforts, ATMIS and the Federal Government of Somalia agreed to continue supporting the National Consultative Council, which brings together leaders of the Federal Government and the Federal Member States. The council is expected to hold its next meeting in February.

The Federal Government of Somalia and ATMIS also resolved to strengthen collaboration in the areas of military training and intelligence sharing to ensure the transition process is successful.

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