2025 African Union Commission Chairperson election

2025 AUC Chairperson election

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| <- 2021 | February 2025 | 2029 ->

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55 eligible[Note 1] votes of the AU member states
two-thirds votes needed to win

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| Incumbent Commission Chair

Moussa Faki

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An African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson election will be held in February 2025 to choose the fifth Commission Chair to succeed incumbent Chairperson Moussa Faki.[1]

## Background

[edit]

Candidates can be nominated until 6th August 2024. The new chair will be elected at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in February 2025. The AU Assembly will elect the chair by secret ballot.[2]

Past chairpersons have hailed from western, central and southern regions of the African Union. The AU Executive Council has asserted the right of the East African region to produce the next chairperson and North Africa will therefore vie for the deputy chairperson post.[3]

## Candidates

[edit]

Official candidates

Image  | Name  | Prior experience  | Nominator  | Endorsements  | Vote pledges
(including nominating country)
| Anil Gayan[4] | Former Foreign Minister |  Mauritius[5] |  |

| Mahamoud Ali Youssouf | Foreign Minister (2005–)  |  Djibouti[6] |

* Somalia[7]
* Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[8]

| Raila Odinga[9] |

* Former AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development (2018–2023)
* Former Prime Minister (2008–2013)

|  Kenya[10] |

* Algeria[11]
* Angola[12][13]
* Burundi[14]
* Central African Republic[15]
* Congo[16]
* Democratic Republic of the Congo[17]
* Equatorial Guinea[15]
* Ghana[18]
* Guinea-Bissau[15]
* Malawi[19]
* Nigeria[13]
* Rwanda[20]
* Seychelles[14]
* South Africa[21]
* South Sudan[22]
* Tanzania[13][21]
* Uganda[10]
* Zambia[19]
* Zimbabwe[23]
* East African Community[Note 2][24]

| Richard Randriamandrato[25] | Former Foreign Minister |  Madagascar |  |

### Withdrew

[edit]

Official candidates

Image  | Name  | Prior experience  | Nominator  | Notes
| Fawzia Yusuf Adam[26] | Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (2012–2014)  |  Somalia[27] |

* Was asked by her government to withdraw in order to support Djibouti's candidacy.[28]
* Endorsed Raila Odinga instead.[29]

| Vincent Meriton | Former Vice-President (2016–2020)  |  Seychelles[30] | Withdrew interest due to arising health concerns.[31]

### Potential candidates

[edit]

Image  | Name  | Prior experience  | Country  | Regional group

|
|
|
|

| Hery Rajaonarimampianina[32] |

* Former President (2014–2018)

|  Madagascar | East Africa
| Jakaya Kikwete[1][9] |

* African Union High Representative for Libya (2016–), former President (2005–2015), former African Union Chairperson (2008–2009), former Foreign Minister (1995–2005)
* He has played a pivotal role in peace processes in the Arusha Accords (Burundi), Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis, Operation Democracy in Comoros, 2008–2009 Zimbabwean political negotiations and 2009 Malagasy political crisis.[33]

|  Tanzania | East Africa
| January Makamba[34][35] |

* Former Foreign Minister (2023–2024)

|  Tanzania | East Africa
| Mohamed El-Amine Souef[36] |

* Special Representative of the AUC Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (2022–)
* Former Foreign Minister

|  Comoros | East Africa
| Specioza Kazibwe[9] |

* Former Vice President (1994–2013)

|  Uganda | East Africa
| Uhuru Kenyatta[9][37] |

* East African Community–Led Nairobi Process Facilitator (2022–) of peace talks in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Former President (2013–2022)

|  Kenya | East Africa

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ As of October 2024, six member states are currently suspended.
2. ^ According to Kenyan President William Ruto.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Raila Odinga's bid for AU chair wins consensus in Nairobi". Africa Confidential. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
2. ^ Kipkemoi, Felix (5 March 2024). "EXPLAINER: How AU Commission chair election is conducted". The Star. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
3. ^ Mutambo, Aggrey (15 March 2024). "Raila Odinga's path to African Union Commission chair post gets easier". The East African. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
4. ^ @ManeeshGobin (July 20, 2024). "Mauritius is proud to support the candidature of Mr. Anil Kumarsingh Gayan for the prestigious position of Chairperson of the AU" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
5. ^ @ManeeshGobin (August 10, 2024). "A solemn ceremony at the State House.. to formally endorse Mr. Anil Kumarsingh Gayan's candidacy" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
6. ^ "Communiqué". Présidence de la République de Djibouti. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
7. ^ Maina, Mwangi (7 August 2024). "Battle for African Union Commission chair narrows down to four-horse race". The Eastleigh Voice. Retrieved 7 August 2024. "Mogadishu's support for Djibouti's candidate was expected, as Raila Odinga is a staunch supporter of Somaliland."
8. ^ @dya_bamakhrama (August 31, 2024). "..unanimously adopted a resolution to support the candidacy of Mr. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
9. ^ a b c d Mutambo, Aggrey (18 February 2024). "Raila's AU Commission job hunt may prove to be an apt exit or trapdoor". The East African. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
10. ^ a b @RailaOdinga (February 26, 2024). "I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
11. ^ @WilliamsRuto (June 14, 2024). "I have held discussion with President of Algeria.. who has pledged support for Kenya's Africa Union Commission chairmanship bid" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
12. ^ Otieno, Otieno (9 April 2024). "Angola signals support for Raila Odinga's AU Commission bid". The Nation. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
13. ^ a b c Ochieng', Justus (24 June 2024). "Raila takes campaign for top AUC post to Francophone nations". Tha Nation. Retrieved 26 June 2024. "All gave him assurances.."
14. ^ a b "Raila steps us AU bid with 19 states support". The Star. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
15. ^ a b c Nyarangi, Edwin (9 April 2024). "Ruto in shuttle diplomacy over Raila's AUC bid". The Standard. Retrieved 10 April 2024. "Ruto secured the support of Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo, Central Africa Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera, Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Equatorial Guinea Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue."
16. ^ @RailaOdinga (August 17, 2024). "Grateful for the insightful meeting with President Denis Sassou N'Guesso.. His endorsement strengthens our mission" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
17. ^ @RailaOdinga (August 15, 2024). "I met with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.. I thank him for his endorsement" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
18. ^ @StandardKenya (April 3, 2024). "Ghana to support Raila.. while Kenya will back Ghana's FM for Commonwealth SG post" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
19. ^ a b "Raila's bid for AUC seat gets boost with Malawi and Zambia support". The Nation. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
20. ^ Ogetta, Daniel (12 March 2024). "President Kagame endorses Raila Odinga's bid for AU job". The Nation. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
21. ^ a b Munene, Cynthia (29 February 2024). "Raila Says 7 African Presidents Have Endorsed His AU Bid". Citizen TV. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
22. ^ @RailaOdinga (July 4, 2024). "Your support and commitment to rallying the entire EAC block behind my AUC Chair candidacy are greatly appreciated" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
23. ^ "ZIMBABWE BACKS RAILA'S AU COMMISSION BID". State House, Kenya. 27 April 2024. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
24. ^ Thiong’o, Josphat (6 March 2024). "Ruto pitches for Raila's bid at EA meeting". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-03-06. "We have consulted as Heads of State.. and we have agreed to sponsor one candidate as East Africans."
25. ^ "At Least Four Throw Hat Into Ring For Top AU Post". AFP. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
26. ^ "Fowzia Yusuf Haji Aden Nominated by Somalia for African Union Commission Chairperson". Mustaqbal Media. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
27. ^ @SomaliPM (January 14, 2024). "FawziaYusufAdam will represent the government of Somalia in the race for the Chairman of the African Union Commission." (Tweet) - via Twitter.
28. ^ "Somalia candidate drops out of African Union race". Garowe Online. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
29. ^ @FawziaYusufAdam (August 9, 2024). "I am delighted to announce my support for the Right Honourable Raila Odinga in his bid for Chair of the African Union Commission" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
30. ^ "Seychelles candidature – Chairperson of the African Union Commission". Foreign Affairs Department, Seychelles. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
31. ^ "Seychelles Candidature to the Position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission". Foreign Affairs Department. 22 July 2024. Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
32. ^ "Hery Rajaonarimampianina sees himself as next AU Commission chairperson". Africa Intelligence. 13 March 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-03-13. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
33. ^ "Profiles of AU Special Envoys, High Representatives, Special Representatives, and the Panel of the Wise". African Union, Peace and Security Dept. September 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
34. ^ St John, Lord Anthony (18 July 2024). "All eyes on the African Union". Business Insider Africa. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
35. ^ "January Makamba's AU chair ambitions prove to be his undoing". Africa Intelligence. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024.
36. ^ Caslin, Oliver (11 April 2024). "Who are the top contenders to lead the African Union Commission?". The Africa Report. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
37. ^ Ngetich, Jacob (February 2024). "Why Uhuru shelved AU job bid in favour of Raila". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-03-03.

## External links

[edit]

* African Union Commission Elections 2025
* AUC Senior Leadership Job Profiles

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