From left: Candidates for the African Union Commission Chairperson Raila Odinga (Kenya), Richard James Randriamandrato (Madagascar) and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti).
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The African Union Commission (AUC) elections provide a pivotal moment for the continent, shaping the leadership that drives Africa’s political, economic, and security agenda.
Held every four years, these elections determine the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Commissioners, with intense regional lobbying and political manoeuvring playing a key role in the process.
But how exactly are these elections conducted?
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 as per the Commission Statutes, Article 10.
Here is the process for the election of the AUC chairperson:
- Nomination Process: AU member states nominate candidates for various AUC positions. Each region of Africa (North, South, East, West, and Central) is allocated positions based on a rotational system to ensure fair representation.
- Campaigning and Lobbying: Candidates campaign and lobby AU member states for votes, with regional blocs often playing a significant role in negotiations.
- Voting Process: Voting is conducted by secret ballot during an AU Summit, with each member state having one vote. To win, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority (this year set at 33). If no candidate achieves this in the first round, additional rounds are held.
- Announcement of Winners: Once elected, officials serve a four-year term, with the possibility of re-election for a second term.
But it is not as easy as that.
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told the Nation in Addis Ababa: “São Tomé which is one of the countries that had been on suspension, will now participate and vote in the AUC elections since they have sorted their issues which was only based on subscriptions. Now 49 countries will participate, raising the two-third threshold for outright victory to 33 up from 32,” said Mr Mudavadi.
Election could go into subsequent rounds, if two thirds is not achieved, and the winner would need a simple majority.
Sometimes, members can vote by acclamation also known as consensus, where they all agree on a candidate, but until Friday February 14, there were no signs of this process being applied. This means the three candidates — Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Foreign minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard James Randriamandrato — are likely to face off in a secret ballot vote.
Consensus may be less acrimonious but often tedious because a single no (objection) can stall the vote and could lead to a delay or postponement of elections.
If the vote is postponed, it could add several more months on the incumbent Moussa Faki Mahamat whose term is supposed to end this Month.
Yet, depending on how it goes, each of the three candidates has a stake in it.
