Ministers of Foreign Affairs from various countries who are members state of the African Union have convened in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in a make-or-break meeting that will determine Raila Odinga's fate in vying for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship post.
According to a statement issued by the African Union, the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary are set to discuss the modalities for the elections which are slated for 2025.
The ministers are also expected to brief the union on the preparations for the elections.
However, the one major issue on the table is a proposal to have the top leadership of the commission be on a rotational basis.
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"Ahead of the February 2025 elections, Ministers of Foreign Affairs commenced the extraordinary session at the AU HQs, to consider the report on the preparation for the election of AUC senior leadership," the statement read in part.
"They will also discuss the modalities of regional rotation and gender parity," it added.
Raila and Kenya at large are banking on the rotational formula to campaign for Azimio Leader to become the next AUC chairperson.
Speaking in Addis at the end of the 44th session of the AU Executive Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers, Chief Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Eastern Africa was next in line for the AU leadership under the AU’s election rules adopted as part of the AU institutional reforms.
“The Central, Southern and Western Africa regions have had their share since 2002, so it is now time for the Eastern and Northern Africa regions,” he said.
“Under the rotational rules, Eastern Africa has the first opportunity when the term of the current chair expires end of this year.”
The term of the current chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, a former Chadian Prime Minister, ends this year and elections for his successor are due early next year.
The AU election rules introduced in 2018 seek to promote principles of regional rotation, interregional rotation, gender and merit in the election of the AU chair and commissioners.
The rotational process is alphabetical, thus, ranking Eastern Africa ahead of Northern Africa.
However, the meeting held today is set to give the way forward which will in turn determine Raila's fate in becoming the next AUC chairperson.
Already, Raila has secured several endorsements from East African leaders including from President Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
The senior leadership of the African Union is elected to serve for a term of 4 years, with the option for re-election for another four-year term.
The elective posts are those of the AU Commission Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Six Commissioners
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