Four senior African politicians from Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, and Mauritius have declared their candidacies for the top position of the African Union.

The AU, which comprises 55 member states, will elect a new chair of the African Union Commission at its summit in February to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat. This year’s appointment is designated for a representative from East Africa, following the tenure of Faki, a Chadian veteran who has held the role since 2017.

The candidates are Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti, Raila Odinga of Kenya, Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, and Anil Gayan of Mauritius. Youssouf, Djibouti’s 58-year-old foreign minister since 2005, highlighted his unique ability to connect different African regions through his proficiency in French, English, and Arabic. He emphasized his goal to “silence the guns” across Africa.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, 79, who has unsuccessfully run for president five times, including his most recent loss in 2022, is also a prominent contender. Odinga, who spent years in jail and exile fighting for democracy under President Daniel Arap Moi’s rule, expressed his commitment to bringing the position to Kenya and serving Africa’s people.

Anil Gayan, 76, who served as Mauritius’s foreign minister at different times between 1983 and 2003, has also thrown his hat into the ring. He has since been involved in other roles, including in tourism and health.

Richard Randriamandrato, Madagascar’s foreign minister from March to October 2022, was dismissed after voting at the UN to condemn Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian regions. Madagascar has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict.

The election will be held by secret ballot, with the winner needing a two-thirds majority of the votes from eligible member states. The AU Commission chair, who acts as the organisation’s chief executive, serves a four-year term with the possibility of one renewal.