Five candidates racing for the post of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) met on Friday for a podium debate on how they intend to handle some of the pressing political, economic and social challenges facing Africa ahead of elections in January 2017.
The candidates from Botswana, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Senegal, all gunning for the top African Union (AU) leadership post, gathered in Addis Ababa, where each spelled their grand vision for Africa. Each one spelt their prospective solutions to the challenges of governance in Africa.
The candidates each made their opening remarks, emphasizing their qualification for the post of Chairperson, to replace the incumbent Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who opted not to renew her mandate.
During the debate, titled “Mjadala Afrika,” or the “African Debate,” each candidate articulated their vision for the African youth, women and how to handle the challenge of employment creation.
They also discussed the free movement of people within Africa, creating a borderless Africa, regional integration, ending political instability and financing of the continental body.
Critics said the debate lacked critical and contentious subjects such as the place of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the fight against impunity in Africa, the pending return of Morocco to the AU, foreign military intervention in conflicts and third-term bids by several African leaders.
However, the candidates offered their prospective solutions to the topical issues, including how to make the youth and women productive within the continent.
Photo credits: African Union
