Battle for AUC chair: Odinga faces off against two others in Ethiopia

Former Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga (c), debates against two otther candiates seeking the African Union Commission chairperson position. [AU]

With the election for the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson looming, Raila Odinga has entered the race, projecting confidence and experience.

Declaring his readiness to lead without an induction period, Odinga on Friday evening outlined an ambitious agenda during the AUC chairmanship debate in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He pledged transformative leadership grounded in the continent’s founding ideals.

“My vision is to honor the dreams of Africa’s founding fathers and drive the continent toward a future of prosperity,” he said, presenting himself as the candidate to turn aspirations into reality.

Odinga’s platform includes securing at least two permanent African seats on the United Nations Security Council. He said it was unjust for a continent of 55 countries to remain excluded from a body central to global conflict resolution, particularly given the direct impact of such conflicts on Africa.

He also noted his commitment to advancing the "Silencing the Guns" initiative, aiming to tackle the root causes of conflicts across the continent. While acknowledging that the 2022 target was missed, Odinga maintained the initiative should remain open-ended, with progress achievable by 2035.

Trade

On trade, the former Kenyan prime minister vowed to empower women and youth by leveraging artificial intelligence and technology.

“We want every African youth connected to the internet. By using AI and technology, they can work globally while staying in Africa,” he said.

Odinga also vowed to enforce a 0.2 per cent AU import levy across member states, aiming to make the Union financially independent from external donors.

A seasoned politician, Odinga has over two decades of parliamentary experience and served as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development from 2018 to 2023. He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Production Technology from Magdeburg Technical School in Germany.

However, he faces strong competition from Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who has vowed to deliver decisive leadership to advance the AU’s mission.

Youssouf’s agenda includes promoting accountability, transparency, and democratic governance while addressing the root causes of conflict, such as poverty and inequality, through arbitration and mediation. He also seeks to spur economic growth by investing in transport infrastructure, electrification, and green policies.

“If elected, I will ensure we surpass the 37 per cent of work completed so far, diversify financing, and secure sustainable funding sources for the AU,” said Youssouf. His priorities also include supporting African education, employment, and entrepreneurship to unlock the continent’s potential.

With over 30 years of experience in diplomacy and governance, Youssouf has chaired the Arab League Council of Ministers (2007, 2017) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (2012).

He has been Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation since 2005 and holds a Master’s in Management from the University of Laval in Canada.

Madagascar’s Richard Jandriamandrato is also vying for the AUC chairmanship, with a platform focused on peace, trade, and regional cooperation.

Jandriamandrato said mediation and dialogue to resolve conflicts and ease border tensions. He also advocates for strengthening free trade within Africa to spur economic growth.

“Trade can be a key driver of economic dynamism. If we achieve free trade across the continent, we could triple our economic performance,” he said.

The Madagascar candidate briefly served as Foreign Affairs Minister in 2022 and as Minister of Economy and Finance for three years. He holds a Master’s in International Politics from Université Libre de Bruxelles.

As the three candidates prepare for the decisive vote, the AUC’s chairmanship election promises to shape Africa’s future amid challenges of governance, trade, and security.