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

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“African Union: the battle of the giants”

Africa

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. [...]

Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga. © Tony Karumba/AFP

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. [...]

Published on 04/03/2024 at 05:40 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

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Diplomacy

Read this article in our running story

“African Union: the battle of the giants”

Africa

African Union: the battle of the giants

East Africa
AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye faces re-election challenge

Just when it seemed that his reappointment was a foregone conclusion, the outgoing PAPS commissioner is being rebuffed. His lack of response to certain critical issues, such as the war in Sudan and the DRC conflict, has irritated some African Union members.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.02.2025

Bankole Adeoye in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 12 May 2022.

Madagascar
AU Commission: Madagascan candidate in France for 19th Francophonie Summit

Former minister of finance and foreign affairs Richard Randriamandrato will be at the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française in Villers-Cotterêts, northern France, on 4-5 October for the 19th Francophonie Summit.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 16.09.2024

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.

Subscribers 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.

China, Kenya
Ruto's project wishlist for China visit

The Kenyan president is in Beijing where he hopes to secure new financing for key infrastructure plans in his country.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 03.09.2024

Kenyan President William Ruto arriving at Beijing airport for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, 2 September 2024.

Madagascar
Ex-foreign minister Randriamandrato targets top African Union job

Having been nominated as a candidate to chair the African Union Commission at the last minute by President Rajoelina, the former minister is about to embark on a major African tour to garner support.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.08.2024

Former Madagascan foreign minister Richard Randriamandrato.

Djibouti
Foreign minister assembles AU Commission campaign team

Veteran diplomat Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has yet to officially throw his hat into the ring, but he is already gathering allies for his likely bid to take the helm of the African Union's executive arm, a post Kenya's former PM Raila Odinga is also eyeing.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.06.2024

Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf in Beijing, China, 20 February 2019.

Algeria
North African competition for AU Commission deputy chair kicks off

Algiers, Rabat and Cairo are expected to be pitted against one another in the election for this AU chair next February. So far, Algeria is the only one of the three countries to have announced the name of its candidate.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.06.2024

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.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 19.04.2024

Raila Odinga, who is running for the presidency of the African Union Commission.

Kenya
French foreign minister to talk Sudan and climate on maiden trip to Kenya

France's new foreign minister will spend part of his first trip to Africa in Kenya.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 01.04.2024

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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.03.2024

Africa
African Union's 2025-2029 Commission chair to go to East Africa

Gathered in Addis Ababa until 15 March, the foreign affairs ministers of AU members will, for the first time in two decades, hand over the reins of the future commission to the continent's eastern region.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.03.2024

The headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Kenya
Ruto woos opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka

The former vice president may have declined to throw in his lot with the current government, but the Kenyan leader is still hoping the opposition's new leader will tone down his hostile rhetoric.

Subscribers only Politics 15.03.2024

Kenyan president William Ruto and one of his main opponents, Kalonzo Musyoka.

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.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 13.03.2024

Hery Rajaonarimampianina during a meeting of opposition candidates in Antananarivo, October 21, 2023.

Africa
Tepid start for new AU chair Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

The turnout for the first African Union assembly meeting held under the leadership of the AU's freshly appointed chair Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani was disappointing.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 12.03.2024

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi bolsters his regional alliances to counter Kagame

With Rwandan-backed M23 rebels increasingly threatening the eastern city of Goma, the Congolese leader is seeking to strengthen his ties with regional allies.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.02.2024

The leaders of the DRC, Angola and Rwanda: Félix Tshisekedi, João Lourenço and Paul Kagame.

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.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 15.02.2024

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on 2 May 2023.

Spotlight | Africa
AU summit set to ignore continent's conflicts and political crises

None of Africa's pressing political and security crises, such as those in Sudan, Ethiopia or the Sahel, are on the agenda of this weekend's continental gathering. Instead, leaders are set to focus on drier matters such as internal reforms and Agenda 2063.

Free access Diplomacy 15.02.2024

The 36th African Union summit in February 2023 in Addis Ababa.

Kenya
Ruto steps up image management

A year into office, the Kenyan president is tightening his grip on PR, especially with regard what is broadcast on TV. He sees such positive spin as important at a time when citizens are become ever more frustrated by rampant inflation.

Subscribers only Politics 03.10.2023

Kenyan president William Ruto during a press conference.

Spotlight | Sudan
AU sets out plan to take the reins on Sudan de-escalation

The African Union Commission, riding a wave of virulent criticism against US-Saudi mediation efforts on Sudan and amid the failure of various ceasefire agreements, is working on its own de-escalation plan, which Africa Intelligence has seen.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 30.05.2023

Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), talk between themselves as they arrive at the AU headquarters for a meeting of the Extended Mechanism on the Sudan Crisis in Addis Ababa on 2 May 2023.

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DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

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

African Union: the battle of the giants

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African Union: the battle of the giants

Set up keyword notifications

East Africa
AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye faces re-election challenge

Madagascar
AU Commission: Madagascan candidate in France for 19th Francophonie Summit

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

China, Kenya
Ruto's project wishlist for China visit

Madagascar
Ex-foreign minister Randriamandrato targets top African Union job

Djibouti
Foreign minister assembles AU Commission campaign team

Algeria
North African competition for AU Commission deputy chair kicks off

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

Kenya
French foreign minister to talk Sudan and climate on maiden trip to Kenya

Africa
Panel for shortlisting future AU commissioners still one short

Africa
African Union's 2025-2029 Commission chair to go to East Africa

Kenya
Ruto woos opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka

Madagascar
Hery Rajaonarimampianina sees himself as next AU Commission chairperson

Africa
Tepid start for new AU chair Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi bolsters his regional alliances to counter Kagame

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

Spotlight | Africa
AU summit set to ignore continent's conflicts and political crises

Kenya
Ruto steps up image management

Spotlight | Sudan
AU sets out plan to take the reins on Sudan de-escalation

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Indigo Publications' websites

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

African Union: the battle of the giants

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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African Union: the battle of the giants

Set up keyword notifications

East Africa AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye faces re-election challenge

Madagascar AU Commission: Madagascan candidate in France for 19th Francophonie Summit

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

China, Kenya Ruto's project wishlist for China visit

Madagascar Ex-foreign minister Randriamandrato targets top African Union job

Djibouti Foreign minister assembles AU Commission campaign team

Algeria North African competition for AU Commission deputy chair kicks off

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

Kenya French foreign minister to talk Sudan and climate on maiden trip to Kenya

Africa Panel for shortlisting future AU commissioners still one short

Africa African Union's 2025-2029 Commission chair to go to East Africa

Kenya Ruto woos opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka

Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina sees himself as next AU Commission chairperson

Africa Tepid start for new AU chair Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

Spotlight | DRC Tshisekedi bolsters his regional alliances to counter Kagame

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

Spotlight | Africa AU summit set to ignore continent's conflicts and political crises

Kenya Ruto steps up image management

Spotlight | Sudan AU sets out plan to take the reins on Sudan de-escalation

Set up keyword notifications

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

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

East Africa
AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye faces re-election challenge

Madagascar
AU Commission: Madagascan candidate in France for 19th Francophonie Summit

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

China, Kenya
Ruto's project wishlist for China visit

Madagascar
Ex-foreign minister Randriamandrato targets top African Union job

Djibouti
Foreign minister assembles AU Commission campaign team

Algeria
North African competition for AU Commission deputy chair kicks off

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

Kenya
French foreign minister to talk Sudan and climate on maiden trip to Kenya

Africa
Panel for shortlisting future AU commissioners still one short

Africa
African Union's 2025-2029 Commission chair to go to East Africa

Kenya
Ruto woos opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka

Madagascar
Hery Rajaonarimampianina sees himself as next AU Commission chairperson

Africa
Tepid start for new AU chair Mohamed Ould Ghazouani

Spotlight | DRC
Tshisekedi bolsters his regional alliances to counter Kagame

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

Spotlight | Africa
AU summit set to ignore continent's conflicts and political crises

Kenya
Ruto steps up image management

Spotlight | Sudan
AU sets out plan to take the reins on Sudan de-escalation