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The African Union has announced a televised debate for candidates running for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), set to take place this Friday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Kenya’s candidate for the AUC Chairperson position, Raila Odinga, will face two challengers — Mahmoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar — in the televised debate.
The debate will be held before a live audience, including AU Executive Council members, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) members, AU Commissioners, media representatives, and invited guests.
According to a statement from the African Union Commission on Tuesday, the debate, named ‘Mjadala Afrika,’ aims to highlight the AU’s mission and give candidates a platform to present their vision for achieving the organization’s goal of a unified, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.
The debate will be broadcast live at 7:00 pm Eastern Africa Time (EAT) across the continent and beyond, available via the AU website and the public broadcasters of member states.
The AUC will provide the debate in six official AU languages: English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili.
The discussion will focus on policy issues and each candidate’s approach to advancing the goals of Agenda 2063, other AU initiatives with a continental focus, and Common African Positions.
This debate is a key moment in the campaign for the AUC Chairperson role, where candidates will need to show their understanding of Africa’s challenges and present tangible solutions to advance the continent.
Public participation is encouraged, with the Commission inviting people to post their questions on their X page, including their names and countries of viewership.
Meanwhile, Raila Odinga, Kenya’s candidate to succeed outgoing Chairperson Moussa Faki, has ramped up his diplomatic efforts, engaging with African Heads of State to gather support for his candidacy.
Although no opinion polls have indicated a clear frontrunner, Odinga is relying on his vast experience in advocating for democratic reforms and regional integration to secure the position.
He has already gained endorsements from several Heads of State and plans to garner more support as the race reaches its final stages.
The AU Assembly will elect the Commission Chairperson through a secret ballot, with Raila needing a two-thirds majority vote from eligible member states to secure the role.
