Former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, has lost the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson election held on Saturday, 15th of February 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - this despite securing multiple endorsements from several African Nations and heads of states. Odinga had received endorsements from several African nations across different regions; securing public support from at least 28 African nations with 19 heads of states backing his candidacy.
The chairman position, which plays a key role in shaping the AU’s policies and global representation, will instead be taken up by Djibouti’s foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. Youssouf, who received the requisite 33 votes in the 7th round of voting in which he contested alone, will be succeeding Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat and marking a significant shift in the leadership dynamic.
Odinga's candidacy for the position was unexpected, given his long-standing role as the de facto leader of Kenya’s opposition coalition, Azimio la Umoja, and head of its largest party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The election gained national attention when President William Ruto's government publicly endorsed and heavily funded Odinga’s bid in July 2024.
This endorsement came amid widespread youth-led protests amid the Finance Bill 2023, with demonstrators accusing the government of economic mismanagement. Ironically, Odinga had previously led similar protests against Ruto’s administration, citing electoral fraud and the rising cost of living. The unexpected alliance between Ruto and Odinga led to ODM members joining the government, a move widely perceived as a betrayal—particularly by the Gen Z movement, which had been at the forefront of the protests.
