Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been eliminated from the race to become the next Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), ending his pursuit of Africa’s top leadership position.
In a closely contested election held on Saturday, February 15, Raila was eliminated in the sixth round of voting, narrowly missing the chance to replace outgoing Chairperson Moussa Faki. His exit marks Kenya’s second unsuccessful attempt to secure the AU’s top leadership position.
Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf Clinches Victory
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti emerged victorious in the seventh round, securing 33 votes to become the seventh AUC Chairperson since the commission’s establishment in 2002. Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato, the third candidate in the race, was eliminated earlier after finishing last.
Youssouf, who takes over from Moussa Faki, will serve a four-year term, with the possibility of a second term for a maximum tenure of eight years.
Raila’s Campaign and Early Lead
Backed by Kenyan President William Ruto, Raila toured the continent extensively, seeking support from African leaders. His campaign team had initially expressed confidence in securing backing from at least 21 countries.
In the early rounds of voting, Raila took an early lead, garnering 20 votes and advancing through subsequent rounds. However, the numbers shifted as the voting progressed.
Breakdown of the Voting Rounds
- Round Three: Youssouf led with 23 votes, Raila followed with 20, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato was eliminated after securing only five votes.
- Round Four: Youssouf increased his lead to 25 votes, Raila secured 21, while one vote was spoilt, and two abstentions were recorded.
- Round Five: Raila maintained 21 votes, while Youssouf gained another vote, reaching 26. No spoilt votes were reported, but there were two abstentions.
- Round Six: Youssouf extended his lead to 26 votes, while Raila increased to 22 votes. However, this was not enough to keep him in the race, leading to his elimination.
According to AU election rules, if no candidate secures the required majority, the candidate with the lowest votes is eliminated, and the process continues until a winner emerges.
Kenya’s Second Failed Bid for AU Leadership
This marks Kenya’s second failed attempt to lead the African Union Commission. In 2017, Amina Mohamed lost to Moussa Faki after securing 16 votes in the first round against Faki’s 14, with the rest split among other candidates. Faki eventually won in the seventh round with 38 votes.
Kenya’s challenges in securing regional backing persisted in both bids, particularly in rallying support from East African Community (EAC) member states, including Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
The election was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15 and 16.
However, in this year’s election, at least six countries did not take part in the voting process.
These countries, which include Niger, Mali, Guinea, Gabon, Burkina Faso and Sudan are suspended for various reasons ranging from coups to civil wars.
