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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Explained: How the AU Commission polls will be conducted

Explainers

By Esther Nyambura | Jan 28, 2025

**AUC Chairmanship candidates, Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf,and Raila Odinga.** [File, Standard]

With just 18 days to go, the African Union is gearing up for a defining moment—the election of the AUC chairperson.

The highly anticipated vote, set for February 15, 2025, has thrown candidates into a last-minute frenzy. Each is striving to leave a lasting impression.

For Kenya, this is more than just a race; it’s a critical opportunity to showcase its influence on the continental stage.

Fronting former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Kenya is banking on his experience and vision to steer Africa’s agenda in a transformative direction.

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To be elected as the AUC chairperson, Odinga must secure at least two-thirds of the votes from the 55-member State through a secret ballot process.

The voting process begins with all the candidates on the ballot and is conducted three times until one candidate gets at least two-thirds of the votes.

If the third ballot remains inconclusive without any candidate garnering the two-thirds majority, the next ballot will be restricted to the two candidates who obtained the highest number of votes.

If neither candidate secures the required majority after three additional ballots, the candidate with fewer votes must withdraw, and the one with the highest vote will proceed.

Should this candidate still fail to obtain two-thirds of the votes, the outgoing chairperson will suspend the election, and the deputy chairperson will assume the chairmanship on an interim basis until new elections are held.

In the event the candidates drop from the race before the election and only one is left, he or she will still require two-thirds majority votes.

Odinga is set to face off with Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato and Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, his key opponent.

So far he has received endorsements from several leaders with the latest from Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, and Guinea Bissau President Umaro Embalo.

Should he win, Odinga will become the first Kenyan to chair the African Union Commission.