Four prominent African politicians have announced their candidacies for the prestigious position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission, a role currently held by Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad. The elections, scheduled for February during the AU summit, will see a representative from East Africa assume the role.
The candidates are:
- Mahamoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti
- Raila Odinga from Kenya
- Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar
- Anil Gayan from Mauritius
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister since 2005, is positioning himself as a unifying figure across Africa’s diverse linguistic and cultural regions. Youssouf, 58, has emphasized his commitment to “silence the guns” on the continent if elected.
Raila Odinga, the veteran Kenyan opposition leader, has run for president five times without success. At 79, Odinga has a long history of political activism, including fighting for democracy during the era of President Daniel arap Moi. Odinga’s campaign is focused on bringing the AU chairmanship to Kenya and serving the African populace.
Anil Gayan, 76, has previously served as Mauritius’s Foreign Minister and held various roles in tourism and health. His extensive experience in government positions him as a seasoned candidate.
Richard Randriamandrato served as Madagascar’s Foreign Minister for a brief period in 2022. His tenure ended following his controversial vote at the UN to condemn Russia’s annexations in Ukraine. Madagascar maintains a non-aligned stance on the Ukraine conflict.
The election for the AU Commission chair is conducted by secret ballot, with the winner needing a two-thirds majority of votes from the 55 member states. The chairperson serves a four-year term, which can be renewed.