African Foreign Ministers have gathered in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, for the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council to review plans for the election of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson scheduled for February 2025. The meeting, which began on Friday, includes representatives from all 55 African Union Member States, officials from AU organs and offices, and strategic partners.
The Executive Council will deliberate on the draft report concerning the preparations for the election that will mark the end of the tenure of Moussa Faki, the current AUC Chairperson who assumed office in March 2017. Tanzania’s Foreign Minister, January Makamba, emphasized the East African region’s desire to secure the AUC Chairperson position, with Kenya and Somalia already putting forward their candidates.
Kenya’s candidate, Raila Odinga, has begun lobbying for support after President William Ruto committed to presenting him as Kenya’s regionally backed candidate. Odinga, who served as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa from 2018 to February 2023, has garnered support from East African Community leaders, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
However, Odinga’s bid may face opposition from Somalia, which is poised to present Fawzia Yusuf Adam, a former Foreign Minister, as its candidate.
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