Kikwete rises against �Mma V� for AU

Venson-Moitoi recently won the first round of the elections but could not attain the required two-thirds majority to grab the AU’s top post, after 20 heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) abstained from the vote. The heads of state reportedly abstained as a “vote of no confidence” in all the candidates and in a show of support for Kikwete, who was reportedly being urged to stand.

ECOWAS leaders are believed to be behind Kikwete’s arrival and in leaks and interviews before the recent aborted election, various sources from that region said leaders would push for elections to be postponed until their desired candidate came forward.