Why Raila Odinga Lost AU Chairmanship Bid

Raila Odinga lost his AU Chairmanship Bid to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf who elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission in the African Union Elections 2025

Raila’s AU Chairmanship bid was always going to be a tough one, but Kenya’s foreign policy choices under Ruto didn’t make it any easier.

Kenya Backed Israel aganist South Africa

Kenya also broke it diplomatic reolationship with South Africa and SADC as a whole after Kenya openly backed Israel, while South Africa (representing SADC) was leading a genocide case against them at the ICJ. That alienated a key voting bloc where SADC also released a letter asking it’s members to vote for the Madagascar candidate Richard Randriamandrato.

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf Wins AU Commission Chairperson Election

Ruto Engaging Macron on DRC Issues

The president of Kenya William Ruto actions in the last few weeks engaging Macron on DRC issues didn’t sit well with many West African nations that view France as a neocolonial power.

When key regions see your country as aligning with their adversaries, how do you expect to win their votes?

Anglophone countries vs Francophone countries

National Languages. The votes were also divided based with lines between Enlish Speaking Nations and English Speaking Countries. Francophone countries are estimated to be 21 while English speaking languages are 15 

Francophone countries are countries where French is an official language. These countries include those in Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world.

These countries are quit united and vote as a block. The countries include Benin, Congo, Democratic Republic of Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Rwanda, Chad, Guinea, Burundi, and Togo

Madagascar also being a Francophone country, after their candidate dropped the SADC Block moved to support Djibouti candidate Mahmoud Ali Yusuf.