Odinga, Yousouff, Randriamandrato Contest African Union's Top Position

African heads of state are set to gather in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 14 and 15, for a critical summit aimed at electing a new Chairperson for the African Union Commission (AUC).

This meeting seeks to identify a successor to Mousa Faki of Chad, whose term is concluding. Three prominent candidates are vying for this influential position: Raila Odinga of Kenya, Mahmoud Ali Yousouff from Djibouti, and Madagascar's Richard J. Randriamandrato. Raila Odinga, an established figure in Kenyan politics and leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has dedicated the past year to his AUC campaign.

A graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Magdeburg Technical School in Germany, Odinga has a long political history, including a tenure as Prime Minister in Kenya’s grand coalition government from 2008 to 2013. He identifies strongly as a Pan-Africanist, promoting unity across the continent and advancing the African Union's Agenda 2063. Odinga currently claims the backing of 28 African leaders but needs at least 33 votes, a two-thirds majority from the 55 member states, to secure his election.

Competing against Odinga is Mahmoud Ali Yousouff, Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Yousouff's extensive 44-page Curriculum Vitae highlights his diplomatic experience, which includes roles as Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States. He holds a Master's degree in Management from the University of Laval in Canada and is multilingual, a skill his campaign underscores as vital for effective engagement with other African leaders.

His vision includes strengthening accountability, transparency, and democratic governance within the AUC, gaining notable support from countries like Somalia and Egypt. Richard J. Randriamandrato, Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister, also enters the race with significant credentials. His academic background includes a Master’s degree in International Politics from Université Libre de Bruxelles. Randriamandrato’s experience spans high-level positions, notably as a Special Advisor on International Relations to the President of Madagascar.

His agenda emphasizes the resolution of regional conflicts through dialogue and mediation, with considerable outreach efforts in Central African nations such as Chad and Cameroon to build support. The election of the next AUC Chairperson will be pivotal for Africa's future, as the chosen leader will face the challenge of harmonizing a multitude of diverse nations, addressing governance issues, and advancing the African Union's sustainable development goals.