The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and he is also the legal representative of the AU.
He is also the Commission's Chief Accounting Officer. His functions include the overall responsibility for the Commission's administration and finances, promoting and popularising the AU's objectives. Other roles include consulting and coordinating with key stakeholders like member states and appointing and managing commission staff.
The race for the AUC Chairperson began in May last year when the commission directed the Eastern region to submit the name of its preferred candidate for the top role while the Northern region was told to submit the name of a candidate for the role of Deputy Chairperson.
President William Ruto with a section of African Union leaders during the opening session of the Retreat of the Extended Bureau on the Implementation of Institutional Reforms of the African Union, State House, Nairobi on January 27, 2025.
