Raila Defeated in AUC Election, Mahmoud Elected as New Boss

Results of the African Union Commission have started to trickle in, with Kenyans eager to know how former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is performing. He faced Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the foreign affairs minister of Djibouti, and Richard Randriamandrato, former foreign affairs minister of Madagascar.

The vote took place on Saturday evening with the media barred from accessing the closed-door session. It was hosted at the Nelson Mandela Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The elections are run on a secret ballot; a candidate must get a two-thirds majority, at least 33 out of 55 member states, to prevail.

To ensure that candidates are chosen on merit and not just through deal-making between states and regions, the AU decided to establish a panel of prominent individuals who will vet applications and draw up a shortlist.

On the 15th Saturday, the election was not different. The contest went down to the wire with Raila Odinga and Mahmoud Ali Yusuf of Djibouti facing off up to the last stages. This is after Richard Randiamandrato failed to make it through to the next round.

In round one, Raila got 20 votes, with Mahmoud Ali Yusuf getting 18 votes and Richard Randiamandrato 10. Raila and Mahmoud Ali Yusuf faced off up to the 6th round, where the former dropped out. Mahmoud proceeded to the next round, where he secured a two-thirds majority of 33 votes.

Provisional results

• Round 1

Raila Odinga—20

Mahmoud Ali Yusuf—18

Richard Randiamandrato-10

Abstention -1

• Round 2

Odinga 22

Djibouti 19

Madagascar 7

• Round 3

Mahmoud Ali Yusuf—23

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga—20

Richard Randiamandrato—5

Abstention—1

• Round 4

Mahmoud Ali Yusuf—25

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga—21

Abstention—2

Spoiled 1

• Round 5

Mahmoud Ali Yusuf—26

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga—21

Abstention—2

• Round 6

Mahmoud Ali Yusuf—26

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga—22

Abstention—1

• Round 7

Mahmoud Ali Yusuf– 33