The election of the new African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson is set to take place at the 38th AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15, 2025. With just hours to go, African leaders, including Kenya’s President William Ruto, have arrived in Addis Ababa for this critical event that will determine the new head of the AUC.
The election will see a successor chosen for the outgoing chairperson, Moussa Faki of Chad, whose term has come to an end. The AUC chairperson serves a four-year term, renewable once, and will be elected alongside a deputy chairperson and eight commissioners who form the Commission’s top leadership.
Rotational Regional System
The AU follows a regional rotational system introduced in 2018 to ensure fairness and inclusivity. The AU classifies Africa into five regions—Southern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Northern Africa. Since representatives from Central, Southern, and Western Africa have previously occupied the chairperson’s seat, the race is now open for candidates from Eastern and Northern Africa.
Election Procedure
The election follows AU procedures outlined in Rules 38, 39, and 42. Rule 38 governs the election of the chairperson and deputy, Rule 39 ensures geographical distribution among commissioners, and Rule 42 outlines the voting process.
The chairperson and deputy must come from different regions, and candidates must be individuals of high competence, leadership experience, and a solid track record in government, international organizations, or relevant sectors. To ensure merit-based selection, the AU established a panel of eminent persons to vet candidates and shortlist them for the election.
Key Contenders
Among those vying for the chairperson’s position are Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato. The competition is expected to be intense, with each candidate vying to secure the crucial two-thirds majority vote required to win.
Voting Process
The election will be conducted via a secret ballot among eligible member states. If no candidate secures a two-thirds majority after three rounds, the process continues, eliminating the lowest-ranked candidate until a winner emerges. If a deadlock persists, the deputy chairperson assumes the chairmanship on an interim basis until new elections are held.
With the AU summit underway, the outcome of this election will shape the continent’s leadership for the next four years. Africa awaits a new chairperson to steer the Union in addressing pressing economic, political, and security challenges.
