Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson seat, Raila Odinga, has failed to secure the position in the election held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Despite taking the lead in the first two rounds, Odinga eventually lost to Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, who gained more support in the subsequent stages and won the seat.
During the initial round of voting, Odinga emerged ahead with 22 votes. Mahamoud followed closely with 18, while Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato earned 10. One delegate chose not to vote.
In the next round, Odinga’s count dropped slightly to 20, while Mahamoud remained at 18. Randriamandrato also retained his 10 votes, with one nation still abstaining.
By the third round, Mahamoud began to pull ahead, securing 23 votes while Odinga stayed at 20. Randriamandrato’s backing shrank to 5, leading to his elimination from the contest. One vote was left uncounted.
This development left only two contenders in the race—Odinga and Mahamoud.Momentum shifted further in Mahamoud’s favour in the fourth round, where he amassed 25 votes against Odinga’s 21.
One ballot was rejected, and another country chose not to participate. In the fifth voting round, Mahamoud extended his lead to 26 votes, while Odinga’s count remained unchanged at 21. One abstention was recorded.
With Odinga eliminated from the competition after the fifth round, Mahamoud became the only candidate left standing. In the final stage of voting, Mahamoud sealed his victory with 33 votes, securing the Chairperson role.
He will take over from Chad’s Moussa Faki, who has held the position for two consecutive terms spanning eight years.
Mahmoud, a seasoned diplomat, has served as Djibouti’s foreign minister for an extended period.
The African Union Commission is the executive body of the African Union (AU), overseeing the bloc’s daily operations from its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The AUC Chairperson is elected to serve a four-year term, with an option for a single renewal.
