African Bloc Picks Youssouf As New Head Amid Calls for Reform

The African Union elected Djiboutian Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf as the head of its executive arm amid calls for a major shake up of the bloc to help make the continent more self-reliant.

The 60-year-old received support from 33 of 49 member states at a two-day summit in the Ethiopian capital on Saturday. Six other member nations didn’t participate as they’ve been suspended.