The African Union Commission, the executive branch of the AU, says it will hold its first ever debate for the five candidates seeking to head the continental body.
Elections are due to be held in January 2017 to pick a successor to the outgoing chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is not seeking a second term in office.
An invitation from the commission says all the candidates who have expressed interest in contesting will take part in the “town hall-style” debate on 9 December at the AU’s headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa:
“It is our sincere belief that this debate will help in the transformation of our union and Africa, as often elections of the union leadership occur behind closed doors thus denying the broad African public an opportunity to be informed and participate in the work of the commission,” a statement on the same read.
The five contenders are;
Botswana’s Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi – currently foreign minister
Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat – currently foreign minister
Equatorial Guinea’s Agapito Mba Mokuy – currently foreign minister
Kenya’s Amina Mohamed – currently foreign minister
Senegal’s Bathily Abdoulaye – currently special UN envoy for Central Africa.
