In February 2025, the African Union (AU) will elect a new leadership team, including the AU Commission chairperson, deputy chairperson, and most of its six commissioners. This time, the chairmanship rotates to East Africa, with four male candidates in the running. The chairperson is the Africa Union’s chief executive. The new Chairperson will lead coordination between the AU, member states, and regional economic communities, and tackle critical challenges over a renewable four-year term.
Key Areas of Focus
The new chairperson must address six pressing priorities to advance the AU’s mission:
1. Reviving Shared Values: Strengthen commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and inclusivity amid democratic setbacks, electoral or military coups, as well as unconstitutional changes of government
2. Defining Roles: Finalize the division of labor between the AU and regional economic communities, particularly in trade and security.
3. Unified Global Stance: Streamline the development of Common African Positions on climate change, African security, sovereignty, development, mineral resources management, and UN reforms to enhance influence in global forums.
4. Strategic Partnerships: Establish clear criteria for international partnerships and implement mechanisms to evaluate their effectiveness.
5. Reform Completion: Finalize institutional and financial reforms, including reducing if not eliminating AU's dependence on external funding.
6. Building a “Citizen’s Union”: Promote grassroots engagement through civil society, the Pan-African Parliament, and initiatives like the African passport.
Major Challenges
The AU faces ongoing obstacles:
• Democratic erosion and an uptick in non-democratic political government changes undermine shared values. Electoral coups, change of constitution to remain indefinitely in power, and recent military coups in Gabon, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger exemplify the AU’s limited effectiveness.
• Persistent contradictions between the AU and regional blocs hinder policy execution, especially in peace, security, and trade..
• Dependence on external funding raises concerns about independence despite progress in bolstering the Peace Fund.
• Bridging the gap between AU policies and citizens’ lived experiences is still a challenge, as seen in stalled initiatives like free movement and the African passport.
A Daunting Agenda
The incoming chairperson inherits a complex, long-standing agenda requiring coalition-building among member states, regional blocs, and AU commissioners. Success will depend on forging unity and driving the pan-African agenda forward despite significant resistance.