Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position has suffered a setback after 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries officially endorsed Madagascar’s candidate, Richard J. Randriamandrato.
In a letter addressed to Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the SADC Executive Secretary Elias M. Magosi confirmed that the regional bloc had thrown its weight behind Randriamandrato.
The endorsement follows Mauritius’ withdrawal from the race, leaving Madagascar as the sole candidate from the SADC region.
Further, the letter explained that during the August 2024 SADC Council meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, the bloc resolved to back a unified candidate.
“The Republics of Madagascar and Mauritius had, in the August 2024 Council, submitted a candidate each for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission, namely Richard J. Randriamandrato and Anil Kumarasingh Gayan, respectively.
“We have since learnt that Mauritius has withdrawn her candidature, leaving Madagascar as the only Member State from the SADC region to compete for the position,” the letter read in part.
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Who will Vote for Raila?
Therefore, with the decision that has now been made, the letter urged all SADC member states, including South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia, to rally behind Madagascar’s candidate.
At the same time, Randriamandrato, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Madagascar, has already reached out to other SADC nations to consolidate his support for the race.
“In consultation with the Chairperson of the Council, and given the short time before the election of the Chairperson, there is no need to convene an Extraordinary Council of Ministers to consider the request from Madagascar.
A letter from the Secretariat seeking SADC Member States’ support for Madagascar’s candidature should suffice,” added the letter.
With 16 countries backing Randriamandrato, Raila Odinga’s prospects of securing a majority vote in the AU elections could be in jeopardy.
SADC member states include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius and Mozambique.
Additionally, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are member states.
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AUC Elections
President William Ruto on August 27, 2024, officially launched Odinga’s candidacy for the AUC Chairmanship.
Odinga also launched a website for his candidacy to succeed outgoing chairman Chadian Moussa Faki which entails Odinga’s Vision and Priorities that he is set to undertake once he is elected as the new AUC chair.
President Ruto and Raila on September 4 met several heads of state including President Umaro Sissoco (Guinea Bissau), Faure Essozimna (Togo), Mahamat Idriss (Chad), and Rwanda (Paul Kagame).
Others include Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema who is also the chair of COMESA, Denis Sassou Nguesso (Congo Brazzaville) and Asimi Goita (Mali).
The government stated that it has mapped out the continent, dividing it into regional blocks to secure a handful of votes in a diplomatic mission aimed at projecting Odinga in his bid.
Raila will face Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato in the elections.
Africa’s heads of state are scheduled to pick Moussa Faki Mahamat’s successor during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, which will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15 and 16.
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