African Union Commission Elections 2021

The AUC Commission is composed of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners, plus staff (Constitutive Act, article 20; Commission Statutes, article 2). The Assembly elects the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. The Executive Council elects the Commissioners, who are appointed by the Assembly. The Commission members’ terms are for four years, renewable once (Commission Statutes, article 10).

In November 2018, as part of Institutional Reforms, the Assembly decided that, from 2021, the Commission shall be composed of eight members – the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and six Commissioners(Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI)). The Assembly also decided to enhance the transparency and meritocracy of the Leadership selection process, and that the new process shall come into effect at the end of the current tenure of the Commission in January 2021.

Key selection principles shall include: equitable regional representation, gender parity, predictable rotation, attracting and retaining Africa’s top talent, accountable and effective leadership and management, and transparent and merit-based selection.

In 2017, the first ever Africa Leadership Debate dubbed MjadalaAfrika was held as a platform for candidates vying for the position of the Chairperson of the AUC to address African citizens in an environment that encouraged dialogue and understanding of the Role and its responsibilities. The debate provided candidates an opportunity to outline their vision of how they would lead the transformation of Africa through the implementation of the AU Mandate and Africa’s Agenda 2063. The debate also allowed African citizens and other stakeholders to put forward questions to the candidates on issues they wanted to be addressed in order to propel the continent’s growth and ensure Africa achieves its goals for integrated and sustainable development and becoming a major player in the Global Arena.

Following the success of this initial debate and in line with the institutional reforms of the African Union, in November 2018, the Assembly adopted a Decision to enhance the transparency and meritocracy of the selection of the leadership of the AU Commission, in conformity with the institutional Reforms of the African Union in November 2018. The Decision stated that, inter alia, that candidates under consideration for appointed leadership positions within the AUC candidates would:

1. Provide a curriculum vitae, along with vision statements outlining how they intend to address the most pressing issues facing the AU; and
2. All candidates for the position of the Chairperson of the Commission shall participate in a televised debate which shall be broadcasted live to African citizens in which they shall present their visions and ideas on the implementation of Agenda 2063.

• SESSION 1: Introduction:
  The moderator will introduce each of the panellists, who will then have the opportunity to briefly present themselves and their vision statements.
• SESSION 2: Question and Answer: Implementation of Agenda 2063
  Candidate will be asked questions related to how they will champion the implementation and achievement of the priority areas of Agenda 2063.
• SESSION 3: Question and Answer: Questions from African Citizens
  Questions will be collated from citizens from around Africa via social networks and asked directly to the candidates through the moderator of the event.
• SESSION 4: Candidate Closing Remarks
  Each candidate will deliver a closing remark to summarise their position / vision and should take a maximum of (2) MINUTES for each candidate.

Interview of AUC Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, candidate Chairperson of the AU Commission 2021-2024

Chairperson AUC Debate

• Date TBC (East African Time)
• Time: TBC (East African Time)
• Venue: Online https://au.int/en/au-elections
• The debates will also be made available to National Broadcasters (check local listings)

Click here for the AU Elections Candidate Profiles & Vision Statements

A key aspect of the debate will be African Citizen participation. Citizens will be given the opportunity to ask candidates about their visions and plans for implementing Africa’s development framework of Agenda 2063.

Submit your questions via email with the subject AU Elections 2021 to Media@africa-union.org or social media on Twitter @_AfricanUnion using the #AUElections2021.