Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
The appointment marks a key leadership transition within the continental body, with the Commission praising both the incoming official’s expertise in peace and security affairs and the outgoing chief’s service and leadership during his tenure.
The African Union warned that failure to bridge the divide could further complicate Somalia’s fragile political transition and security efforts.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged stronger regional integration, infrastructure investment, and policy coordination at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, warning illicit financial flows and instability could derail development goals.
The Commission described the assault, which occurred on the evening of Monday, 4 May 2026, as a serious escalation of insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin, a region that has long faced persistent threats from armed extremist groups.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, expressed “deep concern over the renewed escalation in the Gulf region,” pointing to recent attacks attributed to Iran targeting neighbouring states such as the United Arab Emirates.
The African Union Commission Chair further reiterated the AU’s broader commitment to supporting democratic governance across the continent.
The African Union Commission expressed hope that continued dialogue between the United States, the United Nations, and other international partners would help sustain critical multilateral functions, while also improving efficiency and accountability.
Youssouf praised the conduct of Guinean voters, saying their calm and orderly participation reflected strong public ownership of the electoral process.
The peace initiative presented to the UN Security Council outlines measures intended to address both the immediate security situation and longer-term governance challenges.
In a statement issued on Thursday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that the latest violence threatens to undermine recent diplomatic progress and urged regional actors to exercise restraint.
In a statement released on Sunday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Yousouf said the continental body strongly and unequivocally rejects the coup attempt, noting that it undermines constitutional order, democratic stability and the will of the Beninese people.
AU Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasized that the ongoing violence in the region is highly complex and cannot be equated with mass atrocities seen in other African countries.