AU gears up for annual summit to elect top leadership
Kenya's Raila Odinga (centre) woos President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe for his support for his AUC Chairperson candidature.
The African Union (AU) has set the stage for the election of new leaders as its main agenda during its annual meeting that will be held in Addis Ababa from February 12 to 16, 2025.
This move signals that it is all systems go for the Heads of State and Government across the continent to elect AUC chairperson and seven other leadership positions that will fall vacant then.
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Top among these positions is the AUC chairperson, the deputy chairperson, and six commissioner posts.
In December 2024, the three candidates seeking to take over from Mousa Faki as AUC Charperson detailed their priorities in helping advance the union's aspirations for an integrated, united and prosperous Africa.
The three candidates, who are seeking the mandate to steer the union between 2025-2028 are: Djibouti's Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and Madagascar's former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato.
The deputy chairperson position has attracted six candidates: Algerians Salah Francis and Selma Malika; Egyptians Mohamed Ahmed Fathi and Hanan Morsy; Najat M. Elhajjaji from Libya; and Latifa Akharbach from Morocco.
On Tuesday, the AU said this year's summit, under the theme "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations," will be held at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
As part of the continental forum, the AU Executive Council meeting, which consists of foreign ministers from AU member states will be held from Feb. 12 to 13, AU announced. This forum will be followed by the assembly Heads of State and government from Feb. 15 to 16.
During a televised debate broadcast live to African citizens, the three candidates for AUC Chairperson elaborated on their vision and strategies for implementing the Agenda 2063, the AU's 50-year continental development blueprint, and driving Africa's transformative vision for a prosperous, united, and peaceful Africa.
Since the start of 2025, Kenya's Raila Odinga has met President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Dr Navichandra Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius and most recenty President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe seeking their support for his candidature.
