Ruto Urges Somalia to Back Raila, Drop AU Commission Bid
Kenya has initiated discussions to convince Somalia to withdraw its African Union Commission nominee, Fawzia Yusuf Adam, in favor of Raila Odinga.
On Tuesday, May 7, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made Kenya’s intentions clear during a meeting at his Karen residence in Nairobi with Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
A source familiar with the talks indicated that Somalia might be open to agreeing with Kenya’s request and supporting Raila Odinga instead of their candidate.
Despite this, Somalia asserts it has backing from the Organisation of Islamic Corporation, which includes over 27 African states.
Kenya plans similar talks with Djibouti, which has also proposed a candidate for the same AU role. Kenya’s goal is to convince Djibouti to withdraw its candidate in favor of Raila Odinga.
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Djibouti announced its nominee, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, in early April, aiming to compete with Raila for the AU Commission chairperson position.
The AU has set a deadline for applicants seeking the AU Commission position to submit necessary documents by August 6, 2024, at 5 pm Addis Ababa time.
Raila Odinga has gained significant support from several African leaders, with the most recent endorsement from Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa expressed his support for Raila during President Ruto’s visit to Zimbabwe on April 26, where the two leaders had a two-day meeting.
Kenya’s discussions with Somalia also covered topics such as political consultations, education, and defense.
According to Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, these bilateral agreements aim to strengthen cooperation for the mutual benefit of the people of both countries.
Ruto Urges Somalia to Back Raila, Drop AU Commission Bid