D-Day for AU as States Set to Elect New AUC Chairman

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ADDIS ABABA: The African Union is today set to cast the vote for the leadership of the African Union Commission amid a tight race that saw last-minute lobbying by the Southern African bloc seen as a blow to any of the Eastern Africa region candidates.

According to the election rules, the chairperson must garner two-thirds of the vote to secure the coveted seat. This translates to 33 votes noting that five West African countries were suspended owing to upset of constitutional order through coups. They are Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Sudan and Niger.

The rules state that the balloting continues until the one candidate obtains a two-thirds majority. In the event that there are only two candidates and neither reaches the two-thirds threshold, the candidate with the fewer votes is forced to withdraw, and voting will continue until the remaining candidates garner the majority vote.

However, in the event that the remaining candidate fails to secure the 33+ votes, the election is suspended, and deputy chairperson shall assume office until new elections are called.

In today’s elections, three candidates are battling for the AUC leadership. They are Raila Odinga of Kenya, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti), and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar).

The South African Development Cooperation (SADC) which commands a 16-stronng membership has urged its members to support the Madagascar candidate.

Candidates for deputy AUC chairperson include Salah Francis (Algeria), Selma Malika (Algeria), Mohamed Fathi (Egypt), Hana Morsy (Egypt), Najat Elhajjaji (Libya) and Latifa Akharbach (Morocco).