ADDIS ABABA, February 13, 2025 – African leaders, including Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboun, will convene in Addis Ababa this Saturday and Sunday for the annual summit of the African Union (AU). This gathering will focus on renewing the leadership structures of the commission in response to emerging crises.
Three candidates are competing for the position of AU Commission Chairperson, which is designated for a representative from East Africa this election cycle: former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato.
To succeed Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat, a candidate must obtain a two-thirds majority among the 55 member states of the organization, an outcome that typically necessitates strategic regional alliances.
Algeria has distinguished itself by nominating its ambassador to Addis Ababa and permanent representative to the AU, Selma Malika Haddadi, for the vice-presidency of this pivotal institution. The election will be conducted via secret ballot and will also require a two-thirds majority from the eligible member states.
During the summit, heads of state and government are expected to endorse six commissioners elected by the Executive Council of the Union, who will assist the president in managing the Commission. Meanwhile, the election of five new members to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) remains pending due to the absence of a two-thirds majority for the North African candidate.
Having garnered 30 out of the 33 votes necessary, Algeria is well-positioned to regain its seat on the PSC in the elections scheduled for next month.
The AU summit will address several key agenda items, including reports on PSC activities, institutional reforms within the AU, and updates on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Additionally, African leaders will deliberate on reparations for Africans, marking a significant step towards addressing historical injustices and fostering reconciliation among African peoples and those of African descent.
This year’s theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” was established by the heads of state and government during the 37th Ordinary Session of the Union Assembly held in February 2023 in Addis Ababa.
The objective is to unite African citizens and the African diaspora to form a collective front advocating for justice and reparations regarding historical crimes and mass atrocities committed against them, including colonization, apartheid, and genocide. A unified African stance on reparations and reconciliation will be developed, accompanied by the establishment of an AU action program.
This position will entail various initiatives aimed at addressing historical injustices rooted in colonization, slavery, and systemic discrimination, such as: historical recognition, financial reparations, land restitution, cultural preservation, political reforms, international accountability, and community empowerment.
Prolonged conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan, the Sahel region, and the Great Lakes, along with emerging crises in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Sudan, and the DRC, will also be crucial topics for discussion during the meeting of heads of state scheduled for Friday, ahead of the formal summit on Saturday and Sunday.
During this meeting, African leaders will also address the establishment of an African credit rating agency. This initiative underscores the continent’s commitment to strengthening its financial sovereignty and tackling the longstanding challenges presented by the three major international credit rating agencies.
