The much awaited African Union Chairmanship elections could be postponed for one year if no winner is determined today.
Even so, voting may continue into February 16, 2025. But if the seventh round does not provide results, the deputy chairperson will take over for a year and while a senior ranked commissioner deputizes.
Alternatively, if both AUC Chair and Deputy fail to produce winner, the Senior Ranked Commissioner will become Chair up to the next election a year later.
The race for the chairman position has attracted three candidates, namely Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Raila Odinga.
Below is schedule of today’s activities leading to elections around 2pm, however time may vary depending of flow of activities especially number of rounds but this is the general outlook of the event)
*08:00 AM – 09:00 AM* → Arrival & Registration of Heads of State and Delegates
– Leaders and officials arrive at the AU Headquarters
– Delegates complete accreditation and security screening (happening now).
*09:00 AM – 10:00 AM* → Opening Ceremony
– Official welcome by the AU Chairperson Faki Mousa.
– Speech by the AU Commission Chairperson – his last address as Chair.
– Speech by the host – Ethiopian Prime Minister.
– Speech by new head of States – it happens that this will be Angola President who is now the AU Chair as well (rotationally among heads of states).
*10:00 AM – 10: 30 PM*.
Health Break.
*10:30 AM – 12:30 PM* → Presentation of AUC Election Rules & Procedures
– AU Legal Counsel outlines the voting process
– Explanation of candidate requirements and voting rounds.
– All 3 candidates to offer brief speeches.
*12:30 PM – 01:30 PM* → Lunch Break & Bilateral Meetings
– Heads of State engage in diplomatic discussions
– Side meetings between candidates and delegates
*2:00 PM – 5:00 PM*(but depends on number of rounds) → First Round of Voting for AUC Chairperson
– Each member state (Head of State) casts their votes secretly.
– Results announced
– If a candidate secures a two-thirds majority, they are declared the winner
– If no candidate secures the required votes, a second round follows.
Second Round of Voting (if needed)
– Only top candidates proceed
– Voting results announced
Third Round of Voting (if needed)
– If no candidate secures the required votes, the lowest-ranking candidate is eliminated.
– If no candidate wins, a fourth, fifth and a final seventh round vote among the remaining candidates.
Announcement of AUC Chairperson Winner
– Official results declared
– Acceptance speech by the new AUC Chairperson
*5:00 PM – 6:00 PM* → Voting for Deputy Chairperson
– Similar process to the Chairperson election
– If multiple rounds are needed, the process continues
*06:00 PM – 07:00 PM* → Press Conference & Official Statements
– New Chairperson and Deputy address the media
– AU leaders give reactions and discuss future plans
