Moussa Faki bids farewell as AU braces for high-stakes leadership vote
As leaders prepare for the high-stakes election to replace him, Kenya's top diplomat Musalia Mudavadi has already set a firm tone, cautioning against any delay in the voting process.
African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki will step down on 15 February to end his 8-year tenure as the continental’s body commission leader.
“I end my mandate, and I won’t stay a day longer,” declared outgoing African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat during his speech at the executive council meeting—the assembly of foreign ministers ahead of the heads of state summit.
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His statement was a clear commitment to respecting the rules, subtly contrasting with leaders who amend constitutions to extend their time in power. It also quashed persistent rumours that Faki had been lobbying for a few extra months in office.
Addressing delegates at the 38th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Faki bid farewell with his signature humour, joking about his greying hair compared to younger ministers such as Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who sat in the front row.
As leaders prepare for the high-stakes election to replace him, Kenya's top diplomat Musalia Mudavadi has already set a firm tone, cautioning against any delay in the voting process.
"If we fail to elect a chairperson at this critical juncture, Africa will appear weak, confused, and indecisive," warned Mudavadi during the executive council meeting of foreign ministers. "This is a moment for Africa to show leadership and unity."
In 2016, during a similar election in Kigali, none of the three candidates for the AUC chairperson seat managed to secure the two-thirds majority required for victory.
The result? A diplomatic stalemate that forced a postponement until the following summit.
If the same pattern of abstentions and indecision emerges, the vote could be delayed until July, throwing a wrench into Kenya's plans for Raila Odinga, its candidate for the top job.
Confidence or Concern?
While Kenya officially projects confidence in Raila's victory, the mixed signals—bold assurances on one hand and warnings on the other—raise questions. Is it genuine confidence? Fear of a diplomatic setback? Or a calculated hedge?
The AUC chairperson and deputy will be elected by secret ballot at the Chinese-built AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. The winning candidate must secure at least 33 votes out of 49 to clinch victory in the first round.
Historically, no candidate has ever won in the first round of voting. The stakes are high, and with several contenders vying for the position, the election promises to be a tense and closely watched contest.
With heads of state from 49 African countries present, Moussa Faki will oversee the handover of leadership in what could be one of the most dramatic leadership transitions in recent AU history.
The outcome will not only shape the future of the AU Commission but also serve as a litmus test for Kenya's diplomatic prowess in Africa's most competitive political arena.
Will history repeat itself, or will this be the moment Nairobi clinches a historic win? All eyes are on Addis Ababa.
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