The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged its members to support former Madagascar’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Richard Randriamandrato, in Saturday’s African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson elections.
In a letter
from the SADC Secretariat, the organisation confirmed that Madagascar had
formally requested the support of the 16 member states for Randriamandrato’s
candidacy.
The
Secretariat, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Council, determined
that there was insufficient time to convene an Extraordinary Council of Ministers
to deliberate on Madagascar’s request.
“A letter
from the Secretariat seeking SADC Member States' support for Madagascar's
candidature should suffice,” SADC stated in a letter dated February 12.
“This
letter, therefore, serves to encourage SADC Member States to support Richard J. Randriamandrato, a candidate from our region, for the position of
AUC chairperson during the upcoming elections of the senior leadership of the
African Union Commission, in line with the August 2024 Council decision.”
The SADC
Secretariat noted that Randriamandrato was the only shortlisted candidate from
the SADC region for the AUC Chairperson position.
“In this
regard, the Republic of Madagascar has written to the Secretariat formally
seeking the support of SADC Member States for its candidate,” SADC added.
The letter,
signed by SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi, was copied to all 16 member
states, including Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Comoros,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Madagascar.
Other
recipients included Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, and
Zambia.
SADC
emphasised that its advisory aligned with the Heads of State resolution of
August 2024, which mandated the secretariat to monitor the AUC elections and
provide strategic guidance.
The SADC
decision to endorse Randriamandrato could introduce a fresh twist to the race,
potentially shifting the election’s dynamics and making it more competitive.
Randriamandrato
will face off against Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs
Minister, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, in Saturday’s election in Addis Ababa.
Meanwhile,
Heads of State began arriving in Ethiopia on Thursday ahead of the African
Union’s 38th Ordinary Summit.
The presidents will use the summit to elect the next AUC Chairperson and deputy chairperson in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive elections
in AU history.
Among those
who have already arrived is President William Ruto, who landed in Addis Ababa
at 1 pm on Thursday, accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto.
