In a last-minute diplomatic push, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged its 16 member states to rally behind Madagascar’s candidate, Richard Randriamandrato, for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairpersonship. The call underscores regional unity as SADC seeks to consolidate its influence ahead of the decisive election at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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If the bloc aligns behind Randriamandrato, it could significantly weaken Kenya’s Raila Odinga’s chances, as Djibouti’s candidate is expected to draw support from Arabic- and French-speaking nations. However, despite the regional push, each member state retains the right to vote based on its national interests.
