Egypt's Bid for Vice-Presidency of the African Commission
Egypt is actively competing for the Vice-Presidency of the African Commission, a position exclusively reserved for women from North African countries. During a recent meeting at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ambassador Mohamed Gad announced the candidacy of Hanan Morsi, who currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Morsi has over 25 years of leadership experience in various prestigious international organizations, including the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The upcoming 2025 elections for the African Commission mark a significant shift in the nomination process, with positions for Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson now restricted to candidates from East and North African countries, respectively. This change aims to enhance fair representation across the continent, following a decision made at the African Summit in February. The other six Commissioner positions remain open to candidates from all regions of Africa.
Hanan Morsi emphasized her qualifications and vision for the role, stating her commitment to building a high-performance organization that effectively serves the interests of African nations. She aims to strengthen the Commission's internal capacities, attract top African talent, and ensure diverse representation while maximizing resource efficiency and accountability.
The competition for the Deputy Chairperson position is fierce, with Morsi facing other notable candidates, including Salma Malika Haddadi from Algeria and Latifa Akharbach from Morocco. The current Vice-Chairperson, Rwandan Monique Nsanzabaganwa, will be succeeded by one of these candidates.
In addition to the Vice-Presidency race, the African Union is preparing for a historic televised debate on December 13, where candidates for the Chairperson position will present their plans and visions. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and allow member states to make informed decisions. The Chairperson race is currently limited to three male candidates from East Africa, following the withdrawal of support for one candidate.
The elections will take place at the African Summit in February, with the winning candidates serving four-year terms, renewable once. Voting will be conducted by secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds majority from member states, while six suspended member states will not participate.
