The African Union (AU) has detailed the procedures for the 2025 African Union Commission (AUC) elections, highlighting key dates and the structure of the voting process.
In an announcement made on Monday, January 27, 2025, the AU stated that the elections will take place in two phases. The first phase is scheduled for February 12-13, 2025, while the second phase will occur on February 15-16, 2025.
During the initial phase, the AU Executive Council—comprising foreign ministers from member states—will elect and appoint commissioners who will oversee various portfolios within the AU Commission. This phase will lay the groundwork for the second phase, where candidates will vie for the top leadership positions after the opening ceremony of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government.
“The elections of the African Union Commission will be conducted as follows: The Executive Council elects and appoints the commissioners during their session on February 12-13, 2025.
“The Assembly of Heads of State and Government elects and appoints the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson during their session on February 15-16, 2025,” the AUC noted.
The AUC outlined a rigorous voting process for the elections. All candidates will begin on the ballot, and to win, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority. If no candidate achieves this threshold after three rounds of voting, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
In the case of no majority after three rounds, the process narrows down to the two candidates with the highest votes. However, if only one candidate remains and still fails to secure the required two-thirds majority, the election will be suspended.
“In the election for the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Commissioners, voting continues until one of the candidates obtains the two-thirds majority,” the AUC explained.
“Where there are only two candidates initially and neither secures the majority after three ballots, the candidate with fewer votes is withdrawn, and the remaining candidate proceeds to the next round. If the remaining candidate fails to obtain the two-thirds majority required, the Chairperson is mandated to suspend the election.
“Similarly, if only one candidate is on the ballot and fails to secure the majority after three rounds, the current Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, must suspend the election,” the statement added.
The race for the Chairperson position has attracted prominent candidates, including Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Richard Randriamandrato.
For the Deputy Chairperson position, six candidates are competing: Salah Francis and Selma Malika from Algeria, Mohamed Ahmed Fathi and Hanan Morsy from Egypt, Najat M. Elhajjaji from Libya, and Latifa Akharbach from Morocco.
The AUC 2025 elections are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future leadership of the African Union. With a meticulous voting process and high-profile candidates in contention, the elections are being closely watched across the continent.
