With just hours to go before the election of a new African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson, regional leaders, including President William Ruto, have arrived in Addis Ababa for the highly anticipated vote.
The election, set to take place during the 38th AU Summit on February 15, 2025, will determine the successor to Moussa Faki of Chad, whose term has come to an end.
Apart from the chairperson, the summit will also select a deputy chairperson and eight commissioners, who, together with the chair, form the Commission’s top leadership.
Regional Rotation System
The AU follows a regional rotation principle in the selection of its leadership, classifying the continent into five regions—Southern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Northern Africa.
Under the rules introduced in 2018, the AUC chairmanship rotates among these regions to ensure balanced representation. With Central, Southern, and Western Africa having previously held the position, the current election is reserved for candidates from Eastern and Northern Africa.
Election Process
The voting process is guided by AU regulations, including Rules 38, 39, and 42, which outline the election procedures for the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and commissioners.
- Rule 38 specifies how the elections for the chairperson and deputy are conducted.
- Rule 39 emphasizes that commissioners must be selected based on geographical representation, with each region nominating candidates who have proven leadership experience in government, international organizations, or other relevant fields.
- Rule 42 details the voting procedure, stipulating that the election must be conducted by secret ballot, with a candidate required to secure a two-thirds majority of the 55 AU member states to win.
Candidates in the Race
Several candidates are vying for the AUC chairmanship, including Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato.
To enhance transparency and ensure merit-based selection, the AU established a panel of eminent persons to vet candidates before shortlisting them.
By the end of 2023, only three of Africa’s five regions had submitted nominees for the panel. Countries were required to finalize their candidate submissions by May 2024, nominating experienced individuals from government, international organizations, and the UN system. The AU also encouraged gender balance in the selection process.
Voting Process
According to AU rules, voting will begin with the election of the chairperson, followed by the deputy, and then the commissioners. The Executive Council, composed of ministers of foreign affairs from member states, will oversee the selection of commissioners.
If no candidate secures a two-thirds majority in the initial rounds, voting will continue until the threshold is met. If a deadlock occurs after three rounds, the process will be restricted to the two candidates with the highest votes. If no clear winner emerges after three additional rounds, the candidate with the fewest votes will be required to step down.
In the event that only one candidate remains but still fails to secure the required votes, the election will be suspended. In such a scenario, the deputy chairperson will take over as interim AUC chair until a new election is held.
Should the impasse involve the deputy chairperson, the most senior commissioner—determined by length of service or, in case of a tie, by age—will assume the role on an interim basis.
The AU Summit in Addis Ababa is expected to shape the future leadership of the Commission, setting the tone for Africa’s continental agenda in the coming years.
