Published on February 13, 2025 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 1 year by Agencies for Kenya Online News
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has urged its members to support former Madagascar’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Richard Randriamandrato, in Saturday’s African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson elections.
In a letter from the SADC Secretariat, the organisation confirmed that Madagascar had formally requested the support of the 16 member states for Randriamandrato’s candidacy.
The Secretariat, in consultation with the Chairperson of the Council, determined that there was insufficient time to convene an Extraordinary Council of Ministers to deliberate on Madagascar’s request.
“A letter from the Secretariat seeking SADC Member States’ support for Madagascar’s candidature should suffice,” SADC stated in a letter dated February 12.
“This letter, therefore, serves to encourage SADC Member States to support Richard J. Randriamandrato, a candidate from our region, for the position of AUC chairperson during the upcoming elections of the senior leadership of the African Union Commission, in line with the August 2024 Council decision.”
The SADC Secretariat noted that Randriamandrato was the only shortlisted candidate from the SADC region for the AUC Chairperson position.
“In this regard, the Republic of Madagascar has written to the Secretariat formally seeking the support of SADC Member States for its candidate,” SADC added.
The letter, signed by SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi, was copied to all 16 member states, including Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Madagascar.
