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African Union: the battle of the giants
An African Union summit of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. © Li Yan/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

Running story
African Union: the battle of the giants

The pan-African intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Addis Ababa has increasingly become a political arena where the continent's heavyweights South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria jostle for power. In order to impose their views and place representatives in key positions in the African Union and other international organisations, these nations compete for influence and build coalitions. On the sidelines of these strategic manoeuvres, a few smaller countries such as Rwanda are carving out a niche for themselves.

African Union: the battle of the giants
An African Union summit of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. © Li Yan/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

Nigeria, South Africa
Abuja and Pretoria trade diplomatic favours

In Cape Town, the Nigerian minister of state for foreign affairs has received South Africa's support for her candidate for the post of political affairs commissioner at the African Union. In return, the rainbow nation has asked Nigeria for help to obtain the presidency of the AfDB.

The headquarters of the African Union (left) in Addis Ababa and of the African Development Bank in Abidjan.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 05.12.2024
The headquarters of the African Union (left) in Addis Ababa and of the African Development Bank in Abidjan.

Kenya
Odinga readies to launch African Union chair campaign in Addis Ababa

The Kenyan politician will be at AU headquarters on 8 November.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 07.11.2024

Kenya
Odinga casts wide net in AU Commission chair campaign

The Kenyan candidate can count on several allies in each of Africa's regions to support his run for the coveted post. The grievances that drove widespread protests in Kenya earlier this year have also informed his campaign.

Former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga announces his candidature for chair of the African Union Commission, at the State House in Nairobi on 27 August 2024.
LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 05.11.2024
Former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga announces his candidature for chair of the African Union Commission, at the State House in Nairobi on 27 August 2024.

Djibouti
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf seeks Tony Blair Institute's advice on AU Commission candidacy

The Tony Blair Institute is advising Djibouti foreign minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf on his candidacy for chairmanship of the African Union Commission.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 30.10.2024

Kenya, Morocco
Race to head AU Commission in full swing in French-speaking bloc

Djibouti's foreign minister is the main challenger to former Kenyan PM Raila Odinga for the AU Commission chairmanship next year. Youssouf made the most of the 19th Francophonie Summit held in France earlier this month to rally support for his bid.

French junior minister for the Francophonie Thani Mohamed Soilihi (left) welcomes Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti's foreign minister, on the eve of the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris on 4 October 2024.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 17.10.2024
French junior minister for the Francophonie Thani Mohamed Soilihi (left) welcomes Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti's foreign minister, on the eve of the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris on 4 October 2024.

Inner circles | Djibouti
Foreign minister Youssouf works his African networks in bid for AU Commission chair

The Djibouti contender, backed by his country's top government officials, is seeking media coverage to promote his agenda. As foreign minister, he also meets frequently with African leaders, affording him opportunities to promote his candidacy.

Djiboutian foreign minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on 20 September 2024 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 27.09.2024
Djiboutian foreign minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on 20 September 2024 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Kenya
Odinga seeks French-speaking Africa's help in bid for AU Commission chair

The Kenyan former opposition leader is selecting his main allies in West and Central Africa with a view to securing the support of states in the region. The divisions between candidates and French-speaking countries could work in his favour.

Kenyan candidate for chair of the African Union Commission, Raila Odinga, during his campaign launch ceremony on 27 August 2024, in Nairobi.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 05.09.2024
Kenyan candidate for chair of the African Union Commission, Raila Odinga, during his campaign launch ceremony on 27 August 2024, in Nairobi.

Tanzania
January Makamba's AU chair ambitions prove to be his undoing

The Tanzanian president has initiated a major reorganisation within the ruling CCM party. Foreign minister Makamba, who had pondered a run to chair the African Union's executive branch, is the first to pay the price.

The former Tanzanian foreign minister January Makamba in Dar es Salaam on 15 April 2024.
LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 02.08.2024
The former Tanzanian foreign minister January Makamba in Dar es Salaam on 15 April 2024.

Inner circles | Kenya
Odinga's powerhouse squad gears up for AU Commission chair race

The veteran politician has tasked a small group of heavy-hitting loyalists with winning over as many countries as possible to his bid to take the helm of the African Union's executive arm. Nairobi has also seconded several seasoned diplomats to the cause.

Raila Odinga, who is running for the presidency of the African Union Commission.
LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 19.04.2024
Raila Odinga, who is running for the presidency of the African Union Commission.

Africa
Panel for shortlisting future AU commissioners still one short

One of the five regions is still not represented on the panel, which will have the tough task of shortlisting candidates for the post of African Union commissioner. African leaders will vote on the final choice in February 2025.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 18.03.2024

Madagascar
Hery Rajaonarimampianina sees himself as next AU Commission chairperson

The former head of state has been positioning himself for some months to succeed Chad's Moussa Faki Mahamat. He will, however, need the backing of President Andry Rajoelina, which he is by no means sure to get.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina during a meeting of opposition candidates in Antananarivo, October 21, 2023.
LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 13.03.2024
Hery Rajaonarimampianina during a meeting of opposition candidates in Antananarivo, October 21, 2023.

Inner circles | Africa
Ghazouani marshals his AU presidency team

To make his mark at the head of the African Union, the Mauritanian president can count on a host of officials who know the organisation well. Some will stay in Nouakchott, while others are already based at its Addis Ababa headquarters.

President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on 17 February 2024.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 08.03.2024
President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on 17 February 2024.

Congo
Sassou-Nguesso aims for AU presidency in 2026

Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso used an African Union summit last month to take over the second vice-presidency of the bureau, and thus sought to put himself in pole position to take the helm of the pan-African institution in 2026.

LogoSubscribers only Politics 06.03.2024

Spotlight | Africa
Nairobi bets on AU reform to place Odinga as commission head

The pan-African organisation wants to introduce a new system for allocating its top jobs. Some states, such as Kenya, are very much in favour of this, but others, like Nigeria, are likely to oppose it to protect their own interests.

Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 04.03.2024
Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga.

Kenya
Potential Odinga bid to chair AU Commission divides allies and foes

The Kenyan opposition leader has expressed an interest in the government's proposal that he run for the presidency of the African Union's executive arm. But his allies smell a trap, while some in power don't like the idea of him regaining his international standing.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on 2 May 2023.
LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 15.02.2024
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on 2 May 2023.

Spotlight | Africa
Panel tasked with shortlisting future AU commissioners struggles to take shape

Three regions have already chosen their representatives, but two have yet to decide. Heads of state will have to validate the final panel list at the African Union summit on 17 and 18 February.

President of the African Development Bank, president of Zambia, prime minister of Ethiopia, president of Kenya and chairman of the African Union Commission, on 20 November 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 13.02.2024
President of the African Development Bank, president of Zambia, prime minister of Ethiopia, president of Kenya and chairman of the African Union Commission, on 20 November 2023 in Berlin, Germany.

Spotlight | Africa
Probe accuses African Union head Faki of flouting recruitment rules

Africa Intelligence has obtained a copy of an audit that strongly criticises the recruitment practices of AU Commission chair Moussa Faki and his deputy Monique Nsanzabaganwa.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 25.01.2024
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki.

Mauritania
Ghazouani approached over African Union chairmanship

No consensus has yet been reached regarding the 2024 presidency of the African Union. The Mauritanian leader is now apparently willing to take on the role.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 11.01.2024

Africa
More twists and turns in AU top lawyer saga

The sacking in September of the African Union's legal counsel, Guy-Fleury Ntwari, triggered a fresh recruitment process. But the much-coveted job is again the subject of an appeal to the organisation's administrative court, this time by interim incumbent Mohamed Khalil.

The Vice Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Monique Nsanzabaganwa.
LogoSubscribers only Politics 11.01.2024
The Vice Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Monique Nsanzabaganwa.

Angola, Botswana
Luanda seeks to outmanoeuvre Botswana in race for 2025 AU presidency

President João Lourenço is nurturing hopes of beating Botswana to the African Union presidency in 2025 and is already lobbying behind the scenes.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 20.10.2023

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An African Union summit of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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African Union: the battle of the giants

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