Ruto Leads Kenyan Delegation to AU Summit as Raila Seeks Top Post

Kenyan President William Ruto is currently participating in the 38th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where key elections for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson are underway.

The summit, which convenes Heads of State and Government from across the continent, represents a critical juncture as several prominent candidates seek leadership roles within the AU. Leading the Kenyan delegation, President Ruto is joined by notable figures including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is among the candidates vying for the AUC Chairperson position. Also part of the delegation are Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and other senior officials.

The elections will be conducted through a closed-door, secret balloting process, requiring candidates to secure a two-thirds majority from the 49 eligible member states. However, six countries—Gabon, Niger, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Mali—remain under sanctions and are excluded from voting. In the AUC Chairperson race, Odinga competes with Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard James Randriamandrato.

The election for Deputy Chairperson features candidates from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Morocco, including Salah Francis, 65, and Selma Malika, 48; Mohamed Fathi Ahmed, 65, and Hanan Morsy, 50; Najat Elhjjaji, 73; and Latifa Akharbach, 65. Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has welcomed participants to the summit, while outgoing AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki has commended both President Ruto and his predecessor, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, for their leadership in driving AU reforms.

The focus is now on the elections that will shape the future of the African Union. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has underscored the urgency of resolving regional conflicts, particularly the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He advocates for peaceful dialogue and collaboration in addressing ongoing challenges, reflecting the summit's broader goals of fostering stability across the continent.