The Race for the next AU Chairperson and Persistent Gender Inequalities

The race for the next African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson is offically on. Africa boasts a rich tapestry of exceptional leaders, and the final four candidates for the AU Commission Chairperson position undoubtedly possess impressive credentials. Raila Odinga, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, Mahmoud Ali Youssou, and Richard James Randriamandrato are all worthy contenders.

However, it is undeniable that Africa is also home to countless qualified and competent women, who have made significant contributions to our continent's progress. The absence of a female candidate in the final four is a stark reminder, of the persistent gender inequalities that continue to plague our societies.

The Pan-African Women's Organization (PAWO, Organisation Panafricaine des Femmes, (OPF)) was founded as the African Women's Union in 1962. In 1974, the organization changed its name to the Pan-African Women's Organization (PAWO). 

PAWO was originally formed as an organization to fight against colonialism and racial discrimination and allow women across Africa to unite in their efforts for gaining socio-economic equality. Independence of most African nations and an end to apartheid, shifted the organizational goals towards human rights and peace activism. 

Many are not aware that PAWO was formed by African women even before the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the precursor to the current African Union. The OAU was formed on May 25 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a year after PAWO and thus PAWO was technically the mother to the current AU. 

This shows that women have been formally at the forefront of standing up for united progress and peace in Africa as the continets mothers, and yet none today qualifies to compete for a seat as the AU Commission Chaiperson? 

Yet the African continent celebrates Pan African Womens Day on 31st July every year but we need more than day celebrating our worth as Pan-African women, we need a new table to be created, where we have an equal chance to get a seat at the highest levels of leadership across our continent.

It is unaccepatble that in 2024 as African women we find ourselves in a situation where our potential to lead at the highest level remains unrealized.

As the AU undergoes institutional reforms, let us prioritize gender equity not just in policy but in practice. It is time to create a level playing field where women have equal opportunities to compete for top leadership positions. Africa deserves nothing less. 

Mutheu Khimulu is Kenya's first formally trained Cybersecurity Lawyer as well as one of the first on the African continent. She is also a Legal Specialist in Counterterrorism, Crisis Management, Data Privacy, Financial Regulation & AML Law