As the African Union gears up for the selection of its next Commission Chairperson, a fierce battle has erupted among member states vying for the influential position.
Seasoned politicians are said to be engaging in behind-the-scenes negotiations and public campaigns.
Moussa Faki of Chad, the current chairperson is serving his final term in office having been reelected on February 2, 2021. He was first elected in 2017.
Unlike the AU chairperson who is picked from the sitting heads of state on a rotational basis, the Commission chairperson has a four-year term and runs the organization's secretariat, the repository of its institutional expertise.
He is also the Chief Executive Officer, legal representative of the AU and the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer.
The new chair will be selected at the next AU summit, in 2025.
The Chairperson of the AUC is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once.
Others to be selected are the deputy and six commissioners, who together with the chair make up the Commission’s top leadership.
Monique Nsanzabaganwa from Rwanda is the current deputy and became the first female to occupy the position.
Election process
Elections are conducted by a secret ballot and a two-thirds majority of member states are eligible to vote.
The 2021- 2024 elections of senior leadership for the AU Commission also saw the elections of commissioners which was undertaken by the Executive Council.
The Council elects the commissioners, who are then appointed by the Assembly.
Commissioners are elected for four years, but the terms are renewable only once.
To ensure that candidates are chosen on merit and not solely through deal-making between states and regions, the AU decided to set up a panel of eminent persons who will vet candidates and draw up a shortlist.
By the end of 2023, however, only three of Africa’s five regions had met the deadline to submit a candidate to serve on the panel.
Countries have until May 2024 to submit the names of their preferred candidates.
In choosing names, member states are required to pick not only the former heads of state and foreign ministers but also Africans who have excelled at statecraft in other domains, such as in the UN system.
To ensure a balanced representation, countries are expected to nominate as many women as possible.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga is among those who have expressed their interest in the seat.
Statutory Functions
a) As Accounting Officer of the Union, is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the AU Financial Rules and Regulations across the Union and ensuring overall administrative and financial compliance.
b) Chairs all Commission meetings and deliberations to determine the order of the agenda items, ensures clear and inclusive submission of information by attendees and directs discussions towards achieving consensus and a way forward.
c) Undertakes measures aimed at promoting and popularizing the African Union’s objectives and enhancing its performance in achieving its mandate.
d) Submits reports to the Assembly, Executive Council, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), committees and any other organs to inform effective decision-making.
e) Prepares, with the PRC, the African Union (AU) budget and strategic planning documents of the AU to ensure timely planning and acquisition of adequate resources necessary for achieving AU’s objectives.
f) Acts as a depository for all AU and OAU treaties and legal instruments
g) Facilitates the functioning, decision-making and reporting of all AU organ meetings, and ensures conformity and harmony with agreed AU policies, strategies, programmes and projects.
h) Consults and coordinate with Member States’ governments, other institutions and the Regional EconomicCommunities (RECs) on the AU’s activities, and carry out the AU’s diplomatic representations.
i) Leads efforts in determining the size and structure of the African Union Commission through organisational reviews, staff appointments and capacity building to ensure the Commission has adequate capacity to fulfil on its mandate.
j) Assumes overall responsibility for the Commission’s administration and finances to ensure efficient and effective understanding of the Commission’s mandate as the secretariat of the AU
k) Prepares the annual report on the AU and its organs’ activities to inform on the progress of AU projects and programs and provide recommendations on the way forward.
l) Contributes towards making Africa a significant partner at the global level as well as an integrated bloc within the continent by participating in global platforms, conferences and meetings to build mutually beneficial strategic linkages with other regional, continental and global organisations.
Specific Responsibilities
a) Leads the implementation of the Commission’s mandate and policies in line with the aspirations set out in Agenda 2063, the associated medium-term plans and other key continental legal and policy frameworks.
b) Drives and supervises the performance and delivery of the Commission’s senior leadership team to establish a high-performing efficient and effective organization that is able to deliver on agreed continental priorities, and attract and retain the best quality staff at all levels while operating within a strong accountability and performance-based framework.
c) Drives the implementation of the AU institutional reform agenda.
d) Leads diplomatic engagements and implements tasks assigned by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the Executive Council.
e) Drives the coordination and management affairs in respective portfolio departments and service departments in the AUC.
f) Liaises closely with the organs of the Union to guide, support and monitor the performance of the Union in various areas to ensure conformity and harmony with agreed policies, strategies, programmes and projects.
g) Assesses the need for AU branches, and administrative and technical offices in conjunction with the PRC as may become necessary for the adequate functioning of the Commission, and creates or abolishes them as necessary with the approval of the Assembly.
h) Drives effective coordination of AU strategic partnerships in support of the delivery of continental priorities.
i) Ensures the smooth and efficient functioning of AU statutory meetings; Coordinates all activities and programs of the AUC related to gender issues and ensures gender equity in all affairs of the AUC.
j) Establishes an institutional culture that promotes integrity, strong ethical practices, accountability, good governance and strong staff performance and delivery.
k) Carry out such other functions as may be determined by the Assembly or the Executive Council.