Fact-Check Report: Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Rejects Ksh 6 Billion Bribe for AUC Chairperson Race.
Claim: Reports circulating online allege that Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, was offered Ksh 6 billion to withdraw from the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson race in favor of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, and that he rejected the offer.
Source of the Claim:
A post by Francis Gaitho on X (Twitter) shared a digital card (screenshot below) falsely attributed to Nation Africa with the caption: “Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf rejects Ksh. 6 billion offer from Kenyan government to step down for Raila Odinga in AUC race.”
Note: Nation Africa publicly discredited the digital card as fake.
A reply to Gaitho’s post from an X account claiming to be Youssouf’s verified profile supported the allegations.
Investigation Findings:
Nation Africa’s Response:
- Nation Africa publicly discredited the digital card, marking it as fake on their social media platforms.
Parody Account Involvement:
- The X account (@MahamoudAliYo) cited in Gaitho’s post is a parody account created in September 2024. It is not the official account of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
Official Statement from Youssouf:
- On April 15, 2024, Youssouf confirmed via his verified account that he remains in the AUC Chairperson race.
- He dismissed the bribery allegations as “baseless rumors” meant to undermine his candidacy.
Independent Fact-Check:
- Africa Check, a reputable fact-checking organization, debunked the claim, confirming no evidence supports the bribery narrative.
- Investigation Findings:
Our investigations revealed a reply to Gaitho’s post from an X account, which claimed that Mahamoud Ali Youssouf had rejected the bribe. However, the account in question is a parody account, created in September 2024, and not the official account of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
Conclusion :
The claim that Mahamoud Ali Youssouf rejected a Ksh 6 billion bribe to withdraw from the AUC Chairperson race is false. Key findings include:
- The digital card cited as evidence was fabricated.
- The supporting X account is a parody, not Youssouf’s official profile.
- Youssouf’s verified account denied the allegations and affirmed his candidacy.
- Third-party verification by Africa Check confirmed the story lacks credibility.
This narrative appears to be a disinformation campaign targeting both Youssouf’s candidacy and Kenya’s political landscape.
Report Prepared By: Macquelyne Munialo
Date: 13th February 2025
About The Author
