Raila Odinga Faces Tough Competition for AU Commission Chairmanship Ahead of 2025 Election

 In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• Raila Odinga is competing for the African Union Commission chairmanship, facing candidates from Djibouti, Mauritania, and Madagascar ahead of the February 2025 election.

• With strong backing from President William Ruto, Odinga aims to overcome the challenges faced by Kenya’s previous candidate, Amina Mohamed, in 2017.

Raila Odinga, Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission chairpersonship

Raila Odinga, Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairpersonship, is facing stiff competition from candidates representing Djibouti, Mauritania, and Madagascar. 

These candidates are vying for the position of AUC Chairperson, which will be vacated by Moussa Faki Mahamat when his eight-year term ends in February 2025. 

Like Kenya’s previous candidate in 2017, Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Odinga faces formidable opponents with impressive careers, making his path to victory a challenging one.

Odinga’s bid for the continental position is set to involve significant diplomatic maneuvering, as he navigates the complex geopolitical landscape of African politics, aware of the hurdles that Ambassador Mohamed faced in her unsuccessful 2017 campaign. 

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He will compete against Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Mauritania’s Anil Gayan, and Madagascar’s James Randriamandrato, each bringing extensive experience to the table.

Youssouf, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister for 19 years, is a seasoned diplomat fluent in Somali, English, French, and Arabic. 

His linguistic skills and experience make him a strong candidate, appealing to both Anglophone and Francophone African countries, as well as North African Arab nations. 

Mauritania’s Anil Gayan has over 40 years of experience in diplomacy and legal affairs, having represented his country in various international arenas, including the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. 

Meanwhile, Randriamandrato, Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister, has an equally distinguished career but is perhaps most known for his controversial dismissal in 2022 following his vote against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The election, scheduled for February 2025, will be preceded by the #MjadalaAfrika debate, which will be broadcast live from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

The election process will follow the principle of inter-regional rotation, with the Eastern region submitting both male and female candidates for the Chairperson position. 

The Northern region will submit candidates for Deputy Chairperson, and the remaining regions must submit at least two candidates for the six commissioner roles. The final election will be held by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

As Odinga enters the final stretch of his campaign, with just over 80 days remaining, he is hopeful of overcoming the diplomatic challenges and securing the position, with strong backing from President William Ruto, in a bid to achieve what Ambassador Mohamed could not in 2017.