2025 African Union Commission Chairperson election

Last updated

2025 AUC Chairperson election
Flag of the African Union.svg
 2021February 20252029 

55 eligible [Note 1] votes of the AU member states
two-thirds votes needed to win

Incumbent Commission Chair

Moussa Faki



An African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson election will be held in February 2025 to choose the fifth Commission Chair to succeed incumbent Chairperson Moussa Faki. [1]

Contents

Background

Candidates can be nominated until 6th August 2024. The new chair will be elected at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in February 2025. The AU Assembly will elect the chair by secret ballot. [2]

Past chairpersons have hailed from western, central and southern regions of the African Union. The AU Executive Council has asserted the right of the East African region to produce the next chairperson and North Africa will therefore vie for the deputy chairperson post. [3]

Candidates

Official candidates
ImageNamePrior experienceNominatorEndorsementsVote pledges
(including nominating country)
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.jpg Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Foreign Minister (2005–)Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti [4]
2
Raila Odinga in 2017.jpg Raila Odinga [7] Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya [8]
21
Richard Randriamandrato (2022).jpg Richard Randriamandrato [24] Former Foreign Minister Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar
1

Withdrew

Official candidates
ImageNamePrior experienceNominatorNotes
Profile photo placeholder - jagged edges.svg Anil Gayan [25] Former Foreign Minister Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius [26] After the 2024 general election, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam endorsed Raila Odinga. [18]
Somali Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam (cropped).jpg Fawzia Yusuf Adam [27] Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (2012–2014)Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia [28]
  • Was asked by her government to withdraw in order to support Djibouti's candidacy. [29]
  • She endorsed Raila Odinga instead. [30]
Vincent Meriton portrait.jpeg Vincent Meriton Former Vice-President (2016–2020)Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles [31] Withdrew interest due to arising health concerns. [32]

Potential candidates

ImageNamePrior experienceCountryRegional group
HE Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of the Republic of Madagascar (22748490939) (cropped).jpg Hery Rajaonarimampianina [33] Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar East Africa
Jakaya Kikwete 2011 (cropped) (cropped).jpg Jakaya Kikwete [1] [7] Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania East Africa
January Makamba 2012.jpg January Makamba [35] [36] Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania East Africa
SRCC the newly appointed Head of UNSOS, Assistant Secretary-General Aisa Kirabo Kacyira (52806986616) (cropped).jpg Mohamed El-Amine Souef [37] Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros East Africa
Specioza Wandira Kazibwe (cropped).jpg Specioza Kazibwe [7] Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda East Africa
Uhuru Kenyatta in 2021.jpg Uhuru Kenyatta [7] [38] Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya East Africa

Notes

  1. As of November 2024, six member states are currently suspended.
  2. According to Kenyan President William Ruto.

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