Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has gained further momentum in his bid for the African Union Commission, following reports that Somalia and Seychelles have withdrawn their candidates as the deadline for submissions closed.
However, he will face competition from new entrants, including candidates from Mauritius and Madagascar, who have submitted their applications for the positions.
The African Union Commission closed the application process on Tuesday after inviting candidates for the roles of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and six Commissioner positions, paving the way for the next phase of elections scheduled for February 2025.
Reports from the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa indicate that at least four key candidates have submitted their bids, including Odinga, who aims to succeed outgoing Chairperson Moussa Faki of Chad, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the current foreign affairs minister, and candidates from Mauritius and Madagascar.
President William Ruto announced on his X platform on Tuesday evening that he had a productive discussion with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth regarding AU reforms and Kenya’s bid for the Commission Chair, seeking support from the nation, which has reportedly selected a candidate.
Youssef has begun campaigning actively, using his X platform to announce his visit to Nairobi for advice from President Ruto, stating he would work with him if elected. He had also previously met with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who serves as the CS for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, and a statement from the ministry indicated that Youssef’s visit was a courtesy call.
Meanwhile, Odinga’s office at Capitol Hill has been busy, with the former prime minister meeting Germany’s Ambassador to Kenya, Sebastian Groth, and UK High Commissioner Neil Wigan to discuss recent developments and his candidacy for the AU Commission.
On August 2nd, he met with AMISOM’s civilian chief of staff Kojo Brew Acquaisie and Amb. Valerie Rugene, Kenya’s deputy head of mission in Berlin, to garner support for his bid.
Following the submission of candidates, Odinga and his competitors will undergo vetting by a five-member panel of eminent Africans before participating in a televised interview, where they will answer questions from the African public.
