The five candidates vying to replace Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission will have a live television debate on Friday evening, in which they will tell viewers why they are the right person for the job.

The candidates contesting to replace South Africa’s Dlamini-Zuma are Pelonomi Venson- Moitoi of Botswana, Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, Mba Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea, Dr Amina C Mohamed of Kenya, and Dr Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal.

Dlamini-Zuma will bow out in January after the elections.

The debate to be held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be conducted before a live audience comprising members of the African Union Executive Council; members of Permanent Representatives Committee, African Union Commissioners; media personnel and invited guests.

In a news release the AU said the purpose of live streaming is to popularise the African Union and give candidates an opportunity to speak to Africans and present their vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.

The debate will take place in the context of the series “Africa Leadership Debates”, dubbed MjadalaAfrika, which will be a platform for key stakeholders in aspects of society to discuss opportunities that can be harnessed.

This is in line with the AU vision for Africa to achieve its goals for integrated and sustainable development and transforming the continent to become a major player in the global arena.

The event will be live streamed to the entire continent and beyond on the AU live stream link which is available on the AU website www.au.int.