Raila Intensifies AU Chair Campaign Across North African Capitals

Raila Odinga recently held discussions with Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Foreign Affairs Minister, in Rabat, centring on his vision for the continent.

The talks focused on Odinga's commitment to initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the African Union Commission (AUC) should he be elected as its chairperson. During their meeting, Odinga emphasized several key priorities, including improving connectivity through infrastructure development, establishing visa-free movement, and expanding intra-African trade. He indicated that these initiatives are crucial for ensuring sustainable development and creating opportunities for the continent's youth.

In a joint press conference, he stressed the importance of African unity, asserting that a cohesive approach would amplify the continent's voice on the global stage. Bourita expresses appreciation for Odinga’s visit, highlighting its relevance for Morocco in understanding his candidacy and plans for the AUC. This diplomatic engagement follows Odinga's recent trip to Eritrea, where he met with President Isaias Afwerki who voiced his support for Odinga's candidacy.

Odinga’s travels across Africa indicate a growing momentum as he seeks to galvanize support in advance of the AUC election, scheduled for February 2025 during the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This election will determine the successor to Moussa Faki, who has served two terms. In the upcoming election, Odinga will compete against Djibouti's Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar, while three candidates from Somalia, Mauritius, and Seychelles have withdrawn from the race. So far, Odinga has secured endorsements from 21 member states.

On Wednesday, Raila Odinga will participate in a crucial debate with his primary opponents, live-streamed across Africa. The Mjadala Afrika Leadership Debate is scheduled for 1900 to 2100 hours East Africa Time, taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This debate marks the first opportunity for the candidates to publicly present their visions. Odinga will be joined by Anil Gayan of Mauritius, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti, and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar. The format of the debate aims to facilitate engagement between the candidates and African citizens, allowing for direct questioning from the public.

The event will be broadcast in all six official languages of the African Union: English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kiswahili. Moderated discussions will be conducted primarily in French and English, with questions sourced from the audience to be addressed by the candidates. To enhance accessibility, Dstv Africa will launch two dedicated pop-up channels for the event, with additional coverage available on national channels across participating countries.

Raila Odinga’s head of campaigns Elkanah Odembo expresses confidence in Odinga's preparedness for the debate, emphasizing his distinct qualifications in contrast to his competitors. The candidates will outline their policy approaches and visions for implementing the African Union's mandates, particularly focusing on Africa's Agenda 2063. This debate follows the inaugural 'mjadala' held in 2016, while 2020 saw no debate due to a lack of challengers to Faki’s re-election.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi praises Odinga for stepping forward as a candidate, affirming the importance of his participation in the context of Kenya’s diplomatic journey which celebrated its 60-year milestone on December 3. Post-debate, Raila Odinga’s campaign team has planned a series of outreach efforts, including visits to several countries, notably Djibouti, which is the home of his competitor Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.