The African Union (AU) is set to hold its 46th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where critical elections and appointments will determine the future direction of the continental body. The session will see the election of six new commissioners to the African Union Commission (AUC), which is responsible for overseeing the AU’s administration. The commissioners, elected for a four-year term, will be chosen from a pool of candidates representing various African nations.

Among the key candidates are:

• Ambassador Bankole Adeoye (Nigeria) – Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security
• Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa (Rwanda) – Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry, and Mining
• Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid (Egypt) – Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy
• Ms. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko (Angola) – Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
• Ms. Amira Elfadil Mohammed Elfadil (Sudan) – Commissioner for Social Affairs
• Mr. Thomas Kwesi Quartey (Ghana) – Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation

The session will also see the election of five new members to the Peace and Security Council (PSC), a key organ responsible for responding to conflicts across Africa. The countries vying for these seats include Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria. Additionally, a new African Space Agency member will be appointed to promote collaboration in space exploration.

Other notable elections include:

• Vice President of the Pan African University Council – Contested by Professor Tandio Odi (DRC) and Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor (Cameroon).
• Five new members of the AU Advisory Board Against Corruption, with candidates from Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, The Gambia, and Zimbabwe.
• Six new members of the AU Commission on International Law, representing South Africa, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Cameroon.
• One new member for the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, contested by candidates from Burundi, Liberia, Guinea, Tanzania, and Djibouti.

These elections and appointments will play a crucial role in shaping Africa’s peace, security, governance, and development agenda in the years ahead, reinforcing the AU’s mission of unity and progress across the continent.