AU asks people to submit questions for AUC Chairmanship candidates as Raila faces 2 rivals in Friday debate

African Union (AU) has asked people across the continent to submit pertinent questions they want the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship candidates to address during the upcoming debate.

AU in a statement shared via social media on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, urged the people to submit their questions through the comment section.

Those with questions have been urged to indicate their names and the country they will be watching the debate from.

“Do you have any questions you want the candidates vying for the position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to address? Share your questions in the comment section indicating your names and which country you will be watching the debate from,” the AU stated.

The AU further stated that the debate dubbed Mjadala Afrika will be broadcast live on Television and all Digital Platforms of the African Union.

All National broadcasters in different countries are set to air the event in which the candidates will be tasked to elaborate their visions and ideas on advancing Africa political, economic and social development and integration.

“The upcoming Mjadala Afrika debate, will be broadcast LIVE as candidates vying for the position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission address the African citizens and elaborate their visions and ideas on advancing Africa political, economic and social development and integration,” the statement reads in part.

The debate will be moderated by Anita Erskine from Erskine Global Communications and Fatima Charef, a media and communications expert.

🎙️𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬- 𝐌𝐣𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞.

Do you have any questions you want the candidates vying for position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to address?

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞… pic.twitter.com/JqDXcjEwFP

— African Union (@_AfricanUnion) December 11, 2024

AU leadership debate

The 2024 edition of the Mjadala Afrika Debate is set to be a landmark event in the lead-up to the election of the new Chairperson of the AUC as the term of the current Commission comes to an end in February 2025.

The debate will happen at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and aims to provide a vital platform for candidates to discuss their visions and proposals for addressing the continent’s most pressing challenges, guided by the continental development framework, Agenda 2063.

The debate will feature a panel of candidates who will respond to questions posed by the two moderators (one English and one French speaking).

They will also answer a few questions from online participants of the debate.

The interactive format is designed to encourage transparency and foster direct engagement between candidates and the African people.

Each candidate will have the opportunity to present their vision and elaborate on their policy proposals. The much-anticipated debate will commence at 7:00 pm. 

Raila’s rivals

Raila who has so far received public endorsement from several heads of state will square it out with Richard Mahitsison Randriamandrato and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.

Randriamandrato was Madagascar’s foreign minister from March to October 2022. He served also as a minister of economy and finance from 2019 until 2021 where he focused on economic policies aimed at stabilizing and developing Madagascar’s economy.

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf was nominated by Djibouti for the position of chairperson and is viewed as a fierce rival to Raila in the upcoming AUC race scheduled for February 2025.