In a significant move for the African Union (AU), Egypt has officially launched its campaign to nominate Hanan Morsi for the position of Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The announcement was made on December 4, 2024, during an important gathering of African ambassadors and international representatives at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. This event marked a key moment in the buildup to the 2025 AU elections, as Egypt’s permanent representative to the AU, Ambassador Mohamed Gad, delivered a succinct yet impactful speech that introduced Morsi as the ideal candidate for this prestigious role.
Ambassador Gad highlighted Morsi’s impressive qualifications and leadership experience, noting that she brings over 25 years of expertise from her roles within renowned international organizations such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Throughout her career, Morsi has worked in pivotal sectors, including economic development, debt management, financial policy, and resource mobilization. Her extensive experience in advising both developing and developed nations on financial management, as well as her leadership in initiating successful reforms, positions her as a leader capable of advancing the AU’s agenda and contributing to Africa’s progress on the global stage.
Morsi’s candidacy comes in the context of a major shift in the African Union’s election process. For the first time, the positions of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission have been restricted by region. As per a decision made during the African Union summit in February 2024, the position of Chairperson will be reserved for candidates from East Africa, while the position of Deputy Chairperson will be open only to female candidates from North Africa. This change is part of the AU’s broader commitment to ensure more equitable regional representation and to implement a rotational system of leadership across the five regions of Africa, which aims to address historical imbalances and foster greater inclusivity within the Union.
Morsi’s candidacy for the Deputy Chairperson role, which has been designated solely for women from North Africa, will see her competing against other prominent female figures from the region. Among her rivals are Salma Mellika Haddadi, a former director of African affairs at Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Algeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union. Also in the race is Latifa Akherbash, a former state minister for foreign affairs in Morocco and the current president of Morocco’s High Authority for Audiovisual Communication. Each of these women brings unique qualifications and experiences to the table, making the race for the Deputy Chairperson position highly competitive and crucial in shaping the future leadership of the AU.
In her speech at the AU headquarters, Morsi outlined her vision for the African Union, stressing the need to strengthen the Commission and transform it into a high-performing body capable of meeting the evolving needs of the continent. She emphasized the importance of internal capacity building, saying that one of her primary goals would be to attract the best African talent to work within the Commission, ensuring that it has the expertise required to drive Africa’s development agenda. Additionally, Morsi expressed her commitment to promoting greater diversity within the AU’s leadership, ensuring that it is truly representative of the continent’s vast and varied populations.
Another key part of Morsi’s platform is improving the AU Commission’s efficiency and effectiveness in utilizing available resources. She highlighted the necessity of managing resources with the highest levels of accountability and intelligence, ensuring that they are used in the most impactful way possible. This includes fostering a culture of transparency and ensuring that the African Union is a model for good governance in the continent. Morsi believes that, by focusing on these key areas, she can contribute to building an African Union that not only serves its member states more effectively but also plays a greater role in the global arena.
As the election cycle for the AU’s top leadership positions progresses, the race for the position of Deputy Chairperson comes against the backdrop of an equally competitive contest for the position of Chairperson. This contest is expected to be particularly intense, as the race has narrowed to three prominent candidates from East Africa, following the withdrawal of Mauritius’ support for its candidate, Anil K. Jayan. The remaining candidates for the Chairperson position include Raila Odinga, the former Prime Minister of Kenya; Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, the current Foreign Minister of Djibouti; and Richard Randria, the former Minister of Finance of Madagascar. These candidates are all highly regarded for their leadership and diplomatic experience, and each brings a distinct perspective on how to lead the African Union into its next phase of development.
The election process for both the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson positions will take place during the upcoming African Union summit in February 2025. The voting will be conducted via a secret ballot, with candidates required to secure a two-thirds majority of the votes from AU member states to win the positions. It is important to note that six AU member states currently suspended from the Union will not participate in the voting process.
One of the most innovative aspects of the upcoming elections is the introduction of a televised debate on December 13, 2024, which will be the first of its kind in the AU’s history. This debate will feature candidates for the position of AU Chairperson and is expected to provide a platform for them to present their ideas and vision for the future of Africa. The debate is part of a broader initiative to increase transparency in the AU election process and to allow member states the opportunity to engage with the candidates on key issues affecting the continent.
The outcome of these elections will have significant implications for Africa’s future. The leaders chosen will play a critical role in shaping the AU’s agenda, ensuring that it addresses the continent’s pressing challenges, including poverty, conflict, economic instability, and environmental issues. As Africa’s role on the global stage continues to grow, the African Union’s leadership will need to be equipped with the vision, skill, and commitment required to lead the continent towards a prosperous and sustainable future.
As the race for the AU’s top leadership positions intensifies, all eyes will be on the candidates as they present their plans for Africa’s future. The election of Hanan Morsi as Deputy Chairperson would represent a significant step towards empowering women in African leadership and ensuring greater diversity and inclusivity within the African Union. Her candidacy is not just a bid for office but a statement of Egypt’s commitment to the development of the African continent and to the advancement of its people. The global community will be watching closely to see how this leadership race unfolds and whether the African Union will embrace a new generation of leadership that is equipped to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.
