The African Union Commission’s Chairperson Election Race: The Amina Case

Africa is like a sleeping lion with immense potential. This sleeping lion needs someone to cane it on its backside so that it can roar back to life and unleash its power.

It has been almost half a century since most African states became independent from their colonial masters, yet many countries are facing even more economic problems than during the days of colonialism.

Africa has huge potential largely due to our demographics. More than 60 percent of the population in Africa is made up of young energetic men and women. Unfortunately, this vibrant generation has to struggle with poverty, unemployment and other avoidable issues.

The dream of having one united Africa, one in which there is stronger integration, cooperation, collaboration and committed leadership, is becoming more distant by the day.

Democracy is rarely practiced and tends to only exist solely on paper in some African states. For example, in Gambia, despite an electoral vote, it is the incumbent who decides whether to hand over power or not.

The African Union (AU) has been accused of casting a blind eye on these issues. People have blamed the AU of turning into an organization that only takes care of the welfare of African Heads of States and not Africans as a whole.

Africa, therefore, needs a cure. Africa needs someone at the helm of the African Union; someone with a vision and mission to lead this continent in the right direction both socially and economically.  

That person is Ambassador (Dr.) Amina Mohammed, the current Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs; a candidate who has broad experience and has demonstrated distinguished service at both national and international levels.  

Throughout her three-decade long career in public service, Dr. Amina Mohamed has achieved a lot of firsts which have her earned her international acclaim and respect including:

• She was elected President of UNCTAD 14 for the next four years; was the Chairperson of the historic WTO 10th Ministerial Conference and Co-Chairperson of the ministerial segment of the first ever TICAD Summit held on the African continent

• She is the first woman to have chaired the three most important bodies of the World Trade Organisation; the Trade Policy Body; the Dispute Settlement Body and the Governing General Council of the WTO

• She was President of the Conference on Disarmament, and the first African and the first female Chairperson of the Council of the International Organization for Migration

Kenya under Dr. Amina’s le