Raila's AUC bid threatened as 16 SADC countries asked to back Madagascar candidate

This last-minute move could significantly impact Kenya’s candidate, Raila Odinga, who had been counting on support from SADC nations to strengthen his chances against his two main rivals—Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar—in the high-stakes election.

In a letter dated February 12 addressed to its member states, SADC’s Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi, confirmed Madagascar’s formal request for regional support, emphasizing that Randriamandrato remains the only candidate from the bloc.

“I write to notify you, Honourable Minister, that Honourable Richard J. Randriamandrato, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar, has been shortlisted as the sole candidate from the SADC region for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission,” Magosi stated.

He further explained that, given the limited time before the election, there was no need to convene an Extraordinary Council of Ministers to deliberate on Madagascar’s request, instead, the secretariat’s letter seeking regional backing would suffice.

"In consultation with the Chairperson of Council, and given the short time before the election of the Chairperson, there is no need to convene an Extraordinary Council of Ministers to consider the request from Madagascar. A letter from the Secretariat seeking SADC Member States’ support for Madagascar’s candidature should suffice."

“This letter, therefore, serves to encourage SADC Member States to support Mr. Richard J. Randriamandrato, our region’s candidate, for the position of AUC Chairperson in the upcoming elections,” Magosi added.

SADC’s 16 member countries include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s President William Ruto arrived in Addis Ababa on Thursday to attend the African Union’s 38th Ordinary Summit, where heads of state will cast their votes to elect the next AUC Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.

Under the AU rules, the voting is done by secret ballot and shall continue until one of the candidates obtains support of two-thirds of the 55 AU member states, translating to 33 votes. 

the two-thirds majority vote translating to support from 33 countries.