Inside Raila Odinga’s Tight Campaign Itinerary: Racing for AU Commission Chairmanship Amid Fierce Competition
Opposition leader Raila Odinga is set to embark on an extensive tour next week to garner support for his bid to become the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson.
His campaign schedule reveals heightened activities leading up to the February 2025 elections.
Raila will contend with three other candidates who submitted their applications for the AUC chair by Tuesday’s deadline.
These candidates include Djibouti’s Mohamoud Ali Youssouf, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan from Mauritius, and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar.
All four candidates met the August 6 application deadline.
The election is widely viewed as a referendum on President William Ruto’s regional influence, as he backs Raila’s candidacy.
President Ruto has already rallied top diplomats to support Raila’s campaign.
On Thursday, Raila had a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, where they advocated for African Union reforms to create a more unified and integrated continent.
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Raila shared that they both emphasized the importance of a united Africa, inspired by the European Union model.
“Had a productive discussion with Henriette Geiger on essential AU reforms, enhancing intra-Africa trade, climate action, and investments in education and infrastructure,” Raila posted on X following his meeting with Geiger on Thursday.
This meeting is part of a series of global engagements that the Azimio leader has been involved in since he announced his candidacy for the continental role earlier this year.
The ODM leader has hosted numerous international delegations as he builds a strong foundation for the highly competitive position.
Raila has organized a comprehensive campaign across Africa, beginning with a visit to Brazzaville, Congo, next week to seek the support of President Denis Sassou Nguesso.
Nguesso is a significant figure in French-speaking West and Central Africa and is often referred to as the ‘dean’ of the Francophone countries.
The Francophone network comprises 26 member states, including Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Madagascar.
Other members include Ivory Coast, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Rwanda, Togo, Gabon, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Comoros, and Seychelles.
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Next week’s visit follows Raila’s recent trip to Juba, where he met with East African Community chairperson Salva Kiir.
Kenya’s former Ambassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo, a key diplomat in Raila’s campaign, emphasized the significance of the Juba visit in solidifying regional support.
“During Raila’s visit to Juba, Kiir pledged to rally the East African Community to support Kenya and campaign collectively for Raila,” Odembo stated.
After Congo, Raila will travel to Dakar, Senegal, to secure backing from the influential Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which consists of 15 member countries.
“Raila will also participate in a COMESA summit in Bujumbura, and in September, we aim to have him attend the UN General Assembly, the largest annual gathering of world leaders in New York City,” Odembo said.
The 79th UN General Assembly is scheduled to take place in New York from September 10 to 24 this year.
In November, Raila will be among the participants at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Odembo added that Raila will also conduct roundtable discussions with major African corporations to explore opportunities across the continent.
“By the end of the year, he intends to visit all the regional economic communities. During these visits, he will also engage in business roundtables with corporate leaders to address the challenges and opportunities for Africa’s economic growth, trade, and regional integration,” Odembo explained.
In February, African heads of state will vote for eight positions, including the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and six commission slots.
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The deputy chairperson role has attracted six other candidates, including Salah Elhamdi and Salma Malika from Algeria, Dr. Hanan Morsy and Mohamed Ahmed Fathi from Egypt, Najat Hajjaji from Libya, and Latifa Akharbach from Morocco.
A record 30 candidates have submitted applications for the six commission positions that will become vacant before next year’s elections.
According to the regional rotation policy guiding the 2025 elections, North Africa will nominate both male and female candidates for the deputy chairperson role.
The remaining three regions—Central, Southern, and Western—will each present at least two candidates (one male and one female) for the six commissioner roles.
Only candidates endorsed by their respective regions will be considered in the pre-selection process overseen by a panel of distinguished Africans.
The panel, which includes five individuals representing each region, was appointed in February to manage the pre-selection of candidates for the eight positions.
Assisted by an independent African firm, the panel will first conduct an initial review of applications and CVs. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited for further assessment based on the leadership competency criteria established for these roles,” the AUC stated in a Wednesday release.
“This process will result in a ranked list of pre-qualified candidates, nominated by the relevant AU regions, from which the commissioners will be elected and appointed.”
Inside Raila Odinga’s Tight Campaign Itinerary: Racing for AU Commission Chairmanship Amid Fierce Competition
