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In a closely contested race for the position of Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moroccan representative Latifa Akharbach was edged out by Algeria's Malika Haddadi.
The competition unfolded over six electoral rounds. In the initial round, Akharbach and Haddadi were neck and neck, each securing 21 votes, while Egyptian candidate Hanan Morsi garnered six votes. The second round saw Haddadi take a lead with 23 votes, leaving Akharbach with 18 and Morsi with seven.
By the third round, Haddadi extended her lead, securing 24 votes compared to Akharbach's 22, as Morsi exited the race. The fourth round mirrored this pattern, with Haddadi securing 26 votes to Akharbach's 22. This trend continued through the fifth and sixth rounds, culminating in Haddadi achieving the legal quorum with 33 votes.
The African Union's decision to suspend voting rights for six nations following military coups played a significant role in the outcome. The affected countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Niger, Gabon, and Sudan—are traditionally aligned with Morocco, potentially impacting Akharbach's support.
Meanwhile, Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emerged victorious in the race for Chairperson of the African Union Commission. He succeeds Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat, having secured 33 votes from 49 eligible nations, surpassing Kenya's candidate, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Djibouti maintains a strong relationship with Morocco, recognizing its sovereignty over the Sahara and establishing a consulate in Dakhla in February 2020. Youssouf's visit to Morocco last December, where he met with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, underscored these ties and sought Morocco's backing for his candidacy.
