Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: As the African Union Commission (AUC) prepares for the upcoming election of its senior leadership, the three candidates competing for the AUC chairperson position have articulated their visions to advance the Union’s goals for a unified, integrated, and prosperous Africa.
With the election for the AUC chairperson set for February 2025 during the AU Summit, candidates Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato participated in a live debate on Friday, detailing their priorities.
During the “Mjadala Afrika Leadership Debate,” which was broadcast to audiences across Africa, the candidates discussed their strategies for implementing Agenda 2063, the AU’s ambitious 50-year development plan aimed at fostering a prosperous, united, and peaceful continent that is influential on the global stage.
Youssouf emphasized his commitment to transforming the AU’s Peace and Security Council into a more proactive entity, operationalizing the African Standby Force, securing stable funding for the Union, enhancing intra-African trade, and facilitating the free movement of goods and people across the continent as key priorities if elected.
“The place of Africa on the international stage will be one of my priorities. The Africa that we want is the Africa of peace, integrated and prosperous. If I’m given the chance of being the chairperson of the Commission, I will do my best to make sure that our continent shines on the international state,” Youssouf stated.
The candidates collectively expressed their determination to elevate the AU’s transformative role in tackling Africa’s ongoing and emerging development and security challenges.
The AU has indicated that the February 2025 elections will adhere to a principle of inter-regional rotation for senior leadership roles. Candidates for chairperson will emerge from Eastern Africa, while Northern Africa will propose candidates for deputy chairperson. The remaining regions—Central, Southern, and Western Africa—are expected to submit at least two candidates for six commissioner positions.
Odinga reiterated his dedication to fulfilling the vision of unity established by the founding fathers during the creation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.
Identifying himself as a passionate “pan-Africanist and optimist,” Odinga committed to advancing quality education, healthcare, value addition, intra-African trade, and infrastructure development as part of his agenda.
“Africa is moving forward, but there is work to do and I have what it takes to get us where we want to go… What remains now is action, and what I want to promise to the African people is that I’m going to lead from the front to ensure that we achieve the vision of the founding fathers of our continent,” he remarked.
Randriamandrato highlighted the necessity of leveraging Africa’s significant potential to promote comprehensive economic development. He pledged to enhance the role of the 55-member continental organization in fostering socio-economic progress across Africa if elected.
“We have our own house, the AU, and Africa, which is dynamic and moving forward. I am here before you today because I think it is indispensable and it is a must to have the quality, competence and conviction (to lead the AU),” he affirmed.
