The 38th Ordinary Summit of the African Union has commenced in Addis Ababa, with speeches from various leaders including Moussa Faki and Abiy Ahmed. Mauritania will hand over the leadership baton to Angola. There is a notable election for the African Union Commission Chairperson, with Raila Odinga as a candidate. The meeting will cover key issues and adopt the session’s agenda.
ADDIS ABABA: The 38th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union has commenced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit opened with the African Union anthem and featured speeches from prominent leaders, including the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Additional leaders addressing the summit include the Chairperson of the Arab League, the State of Palestine, the Chairperson of the African Union, and Mauritania’s President, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. Following these speeches, the 2025 African Union Parliament Office and the new Chairperson will be announced. A ceremonial handover speech will be delivered by Ghazouani, followed by an acceptance speech from Angola’s President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço.
The summit will include a private session where newly elected leaders, such as Liberia’s Joseph Nyumah Boakai and Ghana’s John Mahama, will express their greetings. The agenda for the 38th Ordinary Session will be adopted and key issues will be discussed.
Raila Odinga from Kenya is vying to become the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission, with elections held during the summit. He is set to meet Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, and former Foreign Affairs Minister of Madagascar, Richard Randriamandrato, in pursuit of this position.
Elections for the Chairperson are conducted by member states, excluding nations under military rule. A candidate must secure at least 2 percent of votes cast and can serve a four-year term with one possible reappointment. This election period requires the Eastern region to propose a candidate, while the Northern region is expected to nominate the Vice-Chairperson.
The 38th Ordinary Summit of the AU is pivotal, featuring the transition of leadership from Mauritania to Angola and significant discussions among African leaders. Raila Odinga is in contention for the Chairperson role, emphasizing the democratic processes within the Union. The summit’s resolutions and discussions will shape the future of the African Union and its member states.
Original Source: dailynews.co.tz
