Raila Odinga, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Richard Randriamandrato Compete for AU Leadership

The African Union Commission (AUC) leadership race saw candidates Raila Odinga, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Richard Randriamandrato present their visions in a debate in Addis Ababa. Odinga emphasized the need for UN Security Council seats, intra-African trade, and self-reliance in peace funding, while Youssouf focused on reducing reliance on foreign powers and fostering unity. Randriamandrato aimed to unlock Africa’s economic potential through trade liberalization. Analysts view Youssouf and Odinga as frontrunners, with criticism over the lack of female candidates highlighting the need for gender representation in leadership. The winner must secure a two-thirds majority among the AU’s 55 member states, emphasizing the importance of regional alliances.

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