The race for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson is intensifying, with the election scheduled for February 15 and 16 during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, set to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

As the vote draws near, candidates are pushing hard to make their mark, with each seeking to gain the support they need to secure the prestigious role. The contenders in this highly competitive election are Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Richard Randriamandrato, the former Foreign Minister of Madagascar.

The election will determine who succeeds Moussa Faki Mahamat, whose second and final four-year term as AUC Chairperson is coming to an end. The winner will play a key role in managing the operations of the pan-African organization.

Kenya is putting its faith in Raila Odinga, emphasizing his extensive experience and leadership vision to drive Africa’s progress. For Odinga to win, he needs to secure at least two-thirds of the votes from the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which consists of 49 member states. The election and appointment of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson will take place during the 38th AU Summit Session.

How Voting for the AUC Chairperson Will Be Conducted in Addis Ababa

The voting process for the AUC Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Commissioners begins with all candidates on the ballot. Voting will take place in three rounds, with each round offering the candidates an opportunity to secure the two-thirds majority required for victory.

Here’s how the voting will unfold:

Step-by-Step Voting Process:

• First Round: All candidates are on the ballot.
• Second Round: If no candidate secures the required two-thirds majority in the first round, a second round is held.
• Third Round: If the third ballot still fails to produce a two-thirds majority winner, the race will proceed to a restricted ballot, which will only include the two candidates who received the highest number of votes. The candidate with fewer votes will be withdrawn from the race.

In cases where there are only two candidates to begin with, and neither of them secures the two-thirds majority after the third ballot, the candidate with fewer votes will be eliminated, leaving just one candidate to advance.

If only one candidate remains and fails to gain the two-thirds majority required by the third ballot, the election will be suspended, and the current Chairperson will remain in office temporarily. The Deputy Chairperson will assume the role of Chairperson on an interim basis until new elections are organized.

Should any candidate withdraw prior to the election, leaving just one contender, the remaining candidate would still need to obtain two-thirds of the votes to secure the role.

Raila Odinga’s Campaign Intensifies

Raila Odinga, who is vying for the role, is facing stiff competition from Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato and Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. In the lead-up to the election, Odinga has been ramping up his campaign efforts across Africa, meeting with numerous heads of state to secure their endorsements. He recently received backing from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Embalo.

Odinga’s campaign efforts have included a state visit to Egypt alongside President William Ruto, where they met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Prior to this, Odinga campaigned across Mauritania, Tunisia, Algeria, and met with East African leaders at the African Energy Summit in Arusha. He has also targeted Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, including South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique.

Should Odinga win the election, he would make history as the first Kenyan to lead the African Union Commission.