Securing two permanent seats for Africa on the United Nations Security Council, strengthening regional security and unlocking the continent’s economic potential: the promises of the three candidates for the presidency of the African Union Commission (AUC) are as flattering as their impressive records.
The AU summit, scheduled for 15 and 16 February in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be marked by the election of the new chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
To succeed Chadian, Moussa Faki Mahamat, whose term is coming to an end, three main
candidates stand out: Raila Odinga of Kenya, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.
Each brings a distinct vision for the future of the continent.
Raila Odinga, the frontrunner committed to a strong Africa on the international stage
Odinga, a leading Kenyan political figure and historic opponent, is considered the frontrunner in this race.
At 80, he has campaigned aggressively, meeting with many African heads of state and
decision-makers to promote his vision.
In a televised debate on 13 December, Odinga reiterated his commitment to securing two permanent seats for Africa on the UN Security Council, with a veto power.
He stressed that such representation is crucial to ensuring fairness in international decision-making, particularly in the face of the over-representation of Europe, which has three permanent seats.
“It is unacceptable that this continent of 1.4 billion people is excluded from major global decisions,” he said, stressing that Africa deserves a stronger voice in global affairs.
Odinga has also raised the possibility of running again for the Kenyan presidency in 2027 despite President William Ruto’s current support for his candidacy for the AUC.
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, a plea for security and African unity
Djiboutian Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, 59, former foreign affairs minister, is banking on strengthening regional security and promoting continental unity.
Aware of the challenges posed by terrorism and civil conflicts in several regions of Africa, Youssouf believes that the continent must take charge of its own peace and security agenda.
He criticises the reactive approach of the AU Peace and Security Council, calling for a profound reform to make it a proactive body.
Several regions of Africa are in the grip of security crises.
The Sahel is facing a persistent jihadist insurgency, while in the DRC, the situation continues to deteriorate due to violence linked to the M23 rebellion and attacks by the ADF, affiliated with the Islamic State in the east of the country.
Further north, the war in Sudan remains inconclusive.
Faced with this observation, he believes that “our Peace and Security Council is not proactive. It reacts to crises when they occur. This must change.”
Youssouf advocates for strengthening the capacities of African forces, so that they can intervene more effectively and autonomously, without relying excessively on external aid, which according to him, has often hindered sustainable progress.
Richard Randriamandrato, an innovative economic vision
Richard Randriamandrato, 65, former foreign affairs minister of Madagascar, brings an economic perspective to this election.
An economist and financier by training, he proposes an innovative vision to unleash Africa’s economic potential.
He is committed to accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which has been slow to produce concrete results.
Randriamandrato advocates a progressive liberalisation of intra-African trade to stimulate inclusive economic growth.
“First of all, to develop the economy at the continental level, we need to develop trade through liberalisation,” he said.
He also emphasises regional economic integration, a key pillar to strengthen Africa’s resilience and competitiveness on the global stage.
His commitment to democracy and human rights was highlighted in October 2022 when he was dismissed for voting for a UN resolution condemning Russian annexations in Ukraine.
A crucial choice for Africa’s future
The election of the next AUC chairperson comes at a critical time for Africa, which is facing multiple challenges: insecurity, political crises, economic backwardness and marginalisation on the international stage.
The three candidates embody different but complementary approaches to addressing these challenges.
Odinga is banking on a stronger voice for Africa in international fora, Youssouf on security and unity, while Randriamandrato is focusing on economic integration.
ODL/te/Sf/ac/fss/jn/APA