Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been eradicated from the race to turn out to be the following Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). However, his bid might not be solely over simply but.
In an important vote carried out on Saturday, February 15, Raila was narrowly edged out within the sixth spherical of voting, falling quick in his try to switch outgoing Chairperson Moussa Faki. His exit marks yet one more setback for Kenya on the regional physique, following its earlier unsuccessful bids for key positions inside the African Union.
With Raila out of the competition, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf now stays the only candidate within the working, bringing him inside attain of changing into the seventh AUC Chairperson for the reason that Commission’s institution in 2002. The different contender, Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato, was eradicated after ending final within the earlier rounds.
Despite his elimination, all hope is just not misplaced for Raila. The election course of requires a candidate to safe a two-thirds majority to win outright. Should Youssouf fail to realize this threshold, the race may very well be reopened, probably permitting Raila to re-enter the competition.
This growth introduces a level of uncertainty within the closing consequence, as African Union member states weigh their choices. Raila’s expertise as a long-serving politician and pan-African advocate should still play a task in shaping the election’s closing section.
For now, all eyes stay on Youssouf’s skill to garner the mandatory votes to safe victory. If he falls quick, Raila may get one other shot at clinching the highest seat within the African Union Commission.
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