African leaders will next week meet to chart the continent's development agenda, including the appointment of a new leadership team for the African Union Secretariat, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The 28th Ordinary Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government is set for 30 to 31 January. According to the draft agenda, one of the key issues for discussion is the appointment of a new leadership at the AU Commission to steer deeper integration in Africa. To help us to analyse the candidates, we have •Professor Shadrack Gutto, an African political analyst, and Jeggan- Grey Johnson: Communications and Advocacy officer with the Africa Governance, Monitoring and Advocacy Project