African Union Commission: Race to the chairmanship is on

By Godfred Zina

The African Union Commission Chairperson elections are scheduled for February 2025, with candidates from Djibouti, Kenya, and Madagascar, following Mauritius’ withdrawal from the race.

Two prominent contenders have emerged: Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssef and Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. While high-profile campaigns often capture attention, history has proven that they do not guarantee success.

Kenya’s Amina Mohamed, for instance, lost the 2017 election despite widespread publicity and significant financial support.

This pivotal election comes as Africa faces pressing challenges, including economic instability, insecurity, and political turmoil. These crises demand bold, transformative leadership, but once again, the race is highlighting deep-seated divisions within the African Union (AU).

Factors such as regional alliances, colonial legacies, and religious affiliations often overshadow the candidates’ visions for the continent. Complicating matters further, recent upheavals in the Sahel – where Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have exited the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) – add uncertainty to how Francophone nations might align their votes.

What’s at stake?

The AU must prioritize the needs of everyday Africans – employment, health care, education, and security – over corporate-style summits that fail to drive tangible progress.

Additionally, the AU’s heavy dependence on foreign funding from entities like the EU and the US constrains its ability to chart an independent course that truly serves African interests. It is time for African leaders to focus on building internal revenue streams to address the continent’s challenges sustainably.

Finally, the AU’s track record of aligning with imperialist interests instead of championing grassroots, anti-imperialist movements raises doubts about whether the next chairperson will deliver meaningful change. To truly serve Africa’s people, the new leadership must break from this pattern and pursue bold, independent policies rooted in Africa’s aspirations.

Godfred Zina is a freelance journalist and an associate with DefSEC Analytics Africa – a consulting agency specializing in the provision of accurate data and assessments on security, politics, investment, trade, and other risks within Africa. He is based in Accra, Ghana.