The race for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship reached a critical point on Friday as Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga took to the stage to debate his vision for the continent alongside the two other candidates.
In the Mjadala Afrika debate, Mr Odinga faced off with Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar's former Foreign Minister Richard James Randriamandrato.
The debate held in Addis Ababa and televised live between 7 pm and 9 pm broadly touched on economic integration, peace and security, the continent’s place in the global economy, and reforming the African Union.
The former Mauritius Foreign Affairs Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, withdrew his candidature early in the month. The contest is still a men-only affair, meaning the next deputy chairperson is sure to be a woman (AU rules of procedure forbid the same gender occupying chair and deputy at the same time).
In his opening remarks, Mr Odinga said: “At this pivotal moment, at which our many opportunities risk being overshadowed by looming global challenges, we need an African Union Commission that can deliver on the priorities of the African peoples — both by catalysing delivery on our continent and by commanding the global influence it rightfully warrants.”
“I believe I have what it takes to get us where we would like to be in the field of education, health, value addition and trade. I promise the African people that I shall lead from the front to ensure that we achieve the vision of our founding fathers. I stand here as a Pan-Africanist and Afro-optimist…Africa is liberated but there is still work to do and I believe that I have what it takes us to where we want to be,” he added.
Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on his part, said he intended to diversify Africa’s financing and do his best to make sure that the African Union has its own financing sources.
“I'm also going to boost intra-African trade, which should go beyond 80 per cent. And I will bring down all the non-tariff barriers and facilitate the free movement of goods and persons across the continent” he said.
Should he be elected, the diplomat added, he would make sure that the African continent shines on the international stage.
“In theory, trade can effectively become a source of economic dynamism,” he said, noting that intra-African trade currently stands at just 12.6 per cent, far below the levels seen in regions like Europe and the Americas.
He underscored the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), advocating for business as a means to triple the continent’s economic performance.
Drawing from his personal experience as a small-scale farmer, he stressed grassroots development and the need to empower women and youth in the continental market.
With the AU chairmanship seen as a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s future, the candidates sparred over pressing issues, including regional integration, economic development and the institution’s response to crises across the continent.
The stakes are high as the winner will not only lead Africa’s premier intergovernmental body but also set the agenda for addressing some of the continent’s most critical challenges.
Mr Odinga arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s live debate in which the candidates for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission outlined their vision and agenda.
The former Prime Minister, drawing on his tenure as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development, highlighted structural barriers impeding trade.
“The inter-African trade today stands at just nearly 15 per cent,” he said.
He identified non-tariff barriers, differing standards, and inadequate infrastructure as major obstacles. Sharing an anecdote, he pointed out that it took three months for Kenyan tea to reach Ghana due to poor logistics.
Mr Odinga proposed value addition for Africa’s raw materials, a restructured international financial system, and large-scale infrastructure projects such as continental railways to foster integration and trade.
“Our continent has immense resources, but they are not evenly distributed or efficiently managed,” he said.
The Djibouti candidate proposed establishing regional centres of excellence to drive innovation and research, along with stronger regional trade agreements to bridge disparities.
Mr Youssouf also talked about sustainability, suggesting that AfCFTA policies must align with environmental protection and climate resilience goals.
By taking part in the debate, the three candidates addressed the public directly for the first time in a joint platform ahead of the February 2025 elections after months of shuttle diplomacy.
On African Solutions to Silence Guns and Secure Representation at the UN, Mr Odinga emphasised addressing the root causes of conflicts, which he identified as poverty, deprivation, societal exclusion, ethnic divides, external influences, and religious extremism.
“We need to address the coercive factors which could translate into these conflicts throughout the continent,” he said.
The former premier proposed fostering dialogue within societies to prevent violent confrontations, aiming to silence the guns by 2035.
On Africa’s representation at the UN Security Council, Mr Odinga criticised the current structure as outdated, highlighting that the UN was established when most African nations were colonies.
“Africa must get two permanent seats in the UN Security Council. Permanent representation with veto powers is a must for Africa,” Mr Odinga said.
Mr Odinga, who closed the debate by declaring he was ready to work for the continent on Day One, said reforms were necessary to ensure the AU’s success.
Mr Youssouf acknowledged Africa’s existing peace structures, including the African Peace and Security Architecture, the Peace and Security Council, and the Peace Fund. However, he criticized the lack of political will among member states and insufficient funding for peace efforts.
“Our Peace and Security Council is not proactive; it is reacting to crises when they occur,” he said, calling for decisive action to address these shortcomings.
The African Union, as part of its reforms, launched Mjadala Afrika to allow candidates to respond to moderated questions and defend their vision before an African audience.
The idea, the AU argued, was to bring the leadership of the continental bloc closer to the people and remove the wall of secrecy that punctuated the organisation for years.
Friday was only the second time such a debate had happened in almost eight years. The first debate of this kind was held in December 2016 when five candidates vying for the position of AUC Chairperson participated.
The second which would have been held in 2020 did not take place, “as there was only one candidate vying for the position of the Chairperson of the AU Commission in a re-election bid,” said AU in reference to incumbent Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad.
The debate, AU says, provided a vital platform for candidates to discuss their visions and proposals for addressing the continent's most pressing challenges, guided by the development framework, Agenda 2063.
“The debate focuses on policy issues and a solutions-oriented engagement on how each candidate intends to advance the realisation of the aspirations and goals of Agenda 2063, other AU projects with continental focus, and Common African Positions,” the AU communication said.
The session was moderated by Canadian-based Ghanaian Anita Erskine who doubles as the Executive Director of Erskine Global Communications, and Algerian journalist, Fatima Charef.
The debate was conducted in all the six official working languages of the AU —English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili. And, simultaneous interpretation was provided to the candidates and the audience as well as the broadcast and digital platform channels.
The 2024 edition of the Mjadala Afrika has set the momentum for the election that will take place in February 2025.
