Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti and elected Africa Union Commissioner Mahmoud Ali Youssouf poses for a picture during the 38th African Union (AU) Summit. AFP
Youssouf won the required support of two-thirds of the region's leaders in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to secure the post representing some 1.5 billion Africans across the continent.
The 59-year-old was deemed an outside shot against veteran Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, but observers praised the career of the diplomat's low-key campaign to succeed Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat and head the pan-African bloc.
The multilingual politician -- he speaks Arabic, English and French -- remains close to Djibouti's leader Ismail Omar Guelleh.
One of the least populated countries on the continent, home to some one million people, Djibouti is strategically located facing the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, through which much of the world's trade passes.
'Governance problem'
Youssouf has said that there is a "problem with governance" in some African nations, particularly those shaken by recent coups.
"The continent is experiencing many difficulties at the moment," he told AFP in December.
He said that as commission chairman, "peace and security" would be his priority.
He will have to grapple with the devastating conflicts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, as well as huge development aid cuts launched by US President Donald Trump.
The move to cut funding for the USAID agency has left much of the continent reeling. Experts warn it will hobble humanitarian work in Africa.
Youssouf refused to be drawn on Trump, telling AFP in December -- ahead of the US leader's inauguration -- that his policies will be judged "without prejudice".
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