By Sekaggya Seka Moses
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc comprising 16 member states, has endorsed Madagascar’s candidate, Richard Randriamarato, in the upcoming African Union (AU) election scheduled to take place tomorrow.
The 16 member states of SADC, which include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, have been urged to vote for Randriamarato.
Notably, the East African Community (EAC), another key regional bloc, has also been actively engaged in the AU election process.
The EAC member countries, comprising Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, have been observing the election proceedings with interest.
Randriamarato, who is competing against Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouff for the top AU position, requires 32 votes to secure the chairpersonship of the AU Commission.
Djibouti, a member of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), is fielding Youssouff as its candidate.
SADC’s endorsement is expected to significantly boost Randriamarato’s chances, given the regional bloc’s influence and numerical strength within the AU.
The regional bloc has traditionally played a key role in shaping AU policies and decisions.
The AU election is expected to be closely contested, with all three candidates enjoying significant support within the continental body.
However, with SADC’s endorsement, Randriamarato is now firmly positioned as a frontrunner in the race.
The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the future of the AU and its ability to address the complex challenges facing the continent.
As the continental body prepares to elect its new leader, all eyes will be on the AU General Assembly, where the fate of Randriamarato’s candidacy will be decided.
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