The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is urging its member states to support Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato for the African Union Commission chairperson role. This request was sent via SADC’s letter amidst insufficient time for a meeting. Randriamandrato, the only candidate from the SADC region, faces competition from Raila Odinga and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf. Leaders have begun arriving in Ethiopia for a highly competitive election scheduled for Saturday.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has officially called upon its members to endorse Richard Randriamandrato, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar, for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). This request comes ahead of the elections scheduled for Saturday, where he is the sole candidate nominated from the SADC region. The SADC Secretariat communicated this directive in a letter, highlighting that Madagascar has formally sought support from all 16 member states.
Due to time constraints, SADC indicated that it could not convene an Extraordinary Council of Ministers to discuss Madagascar’s plea thoroughly. Instead, a letter from the SADC Secretariat dated February 12 encourages all member states to back Randriamandrato’s candidacy, in alignment with a resolution made by the Heads of State in August 2024. The Secretariat reaffirmed its role in managing the elections while strategically advising member states on their voting decisions.
The endorsement of Randriamandrato may impact the race significantly, potentially modifying the competitiveness of the elections. He is set to compete against notable candidates, including Raila Odinga from Kenya and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, during the polls scheduled to occur in Addis Ababa.
As the elections approach, leaders from various countries have begun arriving in Ethiopia for the African Union’s 38th Ordinary Summit. Among them is Kenya’s President William Ruto, who arrived Thursday afternoon. Other presidents that have confirmed their participation include Duma Boko of Botswana and Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, all poised to engage in this highly anticipated election for the AUC chairperson.
In summary, the SADC has urged support for Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato in the upcoming AUC elections, following a formal request for backing from the member states. The decision to endorse Randriamandrato could reshape the dynamics of the election, as he competes against prominent candidates from Kenya and Djibouti. As leaders convene for the African Union Summit, the stage is set for one of the most competitive elections in AU history.
Original Source: www.the-star.co.ke
