AUC chairmanship candidates during the Mjadala Afrika debate on December 13, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,The African Union has revealed that the much-awaited elections for the next African Union Commission chairperson will be conducted on February 15 and 16.
The union said the elections, to be taken in three rounds, will be preceded by the election of the six commissioners on February 12-13.
According to the commission statutes, the Assembly elects the chairperson and deputy chairperson while the Executive Council elects the commissioners, who are appointed by the Assembly.
The commission members’ terms are for four years, renewable once.
A Panel of Eminent Africans, composed of five personalities, one per region, will oversee the pre-selection of candidatures for the senior leadership of the Commission
"The Assembly of Heads of State and Government elects and appoints the chairperson and deputy chairperson during their Session on the 15-16 February 2025," AU said in an explainer.
The union added that in the election for the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and commissioners, voting continues until one of the candidates obtains the two-thirds majority.
"The voting process begins with all the candidates on the ballot. Voting is conducted three times and if the third ballot remains inconclusive without any candidate garnering the two-thirds majority, the next ballot shall be restricted to the two candidates who obtained the highest number of votes and the candidate with fewer votes is withdrawn," AU said.
It explained that in the event there were only two candidates initially, and neither candidate obtains the majority required after the third ballot, the candidate with fewer votes is withdrawn and the remaining candidate proceeds to the next round.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 in that round, the chairperson is required to suspend the election," AU said.
What if there is only one candidate initially?
AU said in such a rare scenario, where only one candidate fails to obtain the two-thirds majority required after the third ballot, the incumbent chairperson is required to suspend the election as well.
Kenya is among the countries that have fielded a candidate for the AUC chairperson position.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will face off with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Madagascar's Richard Randriamandrato.
The three went head-to-head in a televised TV debate on December 13, 2024, where each used the opportunity to outline their vision of how they would lead the transformation of Africa through the implementation of the AU Mandate and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Raila was as of January 15 a clear favourite to replace outgoing AUC chair Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad having won endorsements from at least 21 countries.
The winner of the AUC chairperson seat is required to garner the support of two-thirds of the 55 countries eligible to vote, translating to 33 African Union member states.
