SADC Backs Madagascar, Threatening Raila’s AU Bid

Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship took a new turn on Thursday after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) urged its members to back Madagascar’s candidate.

In a letter dated February 12, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi called on the bloc’s 16 member states to support former Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato. If followed, this directive could significantly impact Raila’s chances, as many SADC nations had initially pledged their support for his candidacy.

Raila, who is also counting on votes from Anglophone countries—many of which are SADC members—needs 33 out of 49 votes to secure victory in the first round. The election, which will determine the successor to Chad’s Moussa Faki, is set to be a high-stakes contest against Randriamandrato and Djibouti’s Mahamoud Youssouf.