The African Union (AU) has announced how the African Union Commission (AUC) 2025 election will be conducted.
In the announcement on Monday, January 27, 2025, AUC stated that there will be two phases to the elections. The first phase will run between February 12-13, 2025, while the second will be between February 15-16, 2025.
In the first phase, the AU Executive Council, comprising foreign ministers from member states, will elect and appoint the commissioners who will oversee various portfolios within the AU Commission.
This will set the stage for the second phase, the highly anticipated process that will see candidates vying for the top leadership position elected after the opening ceremony of the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State.
“The elections of the African Union Commission will be conducted as follows: The Executive Council elects and appoints the commissioners during their session on 12-13 February 2025.
“The Assembly of Heads of State and Government elects and appoints the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson during their session on 15-16 February 2025, “AUC announced.
AUC further noted that the voting process begins with all candidates on the ballot adding that to win, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority and candidates may face elimination after three rounds of voting if they fail to secure the majority.
In addition, the commission stated that if no candidate secures the necessary majority after three rounds, only the two candidates with the highest votes will be eligible for further voting process.
“In the election for the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Commissioners, voting continues until one (1) of the candidates obtains the two-thirds majority.
“The voting process begins with all the candidates on the ballot. Voting is conducted three times and if the third ballot remains inconclusive without any candidate garnering the two-thirds majority, the next ballot shall be restricted to the two (2) candidates who obtained the highest number of votes and the candidate with fewer votes is withdrawn, “AUC stated.
While explaining the voting process, the commission added that in cases where only one candidate remains but still fails to achieve the required two-thirds majority, the incumbent chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat is mandated to suspend the election.
“Where there are only two (2) candidates initially and neither candidate obtains the majority required after the third ballot, the candidate with fewer votes is withdrawn and the remaining candidate proceeds to the next round.
“If the remaining candidate fails to obtain the two-thirds majority required in that round, the Chairperson is required to suspend the election. Where there is only one (1) candidate initially and he or she fails to obtain the two-thirds majority required after the third ballot, the current Chairperson is required to suspend the election,” AUC said.
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AUC candidates
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Richard Randriamandrato are contesting for the chairship position.
For the Deputy Chairperson position, the six candidates vying for the position include Salah Francis and Selma Malika from Algeria, Mohamed Ahmed Fathi and Hanan Morsy from Egypt, Najat M. Elhajjaji from Libya, and Latifa Akharbach from Morocco.
