On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, President William Ruto met with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé and Malian President Colonel Assimi Goita during the ongoing Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing. Raila Odinga, who was recently endorsed by Ruto as Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship in February 2025, also attended the meeting.
In a statement shared via his official X account, Ruto revealed that the meeting included discussions on supporting Raila’s candidacy. He also noted that the conversation covered the upcoming pan-African Congress scheduled to be held in Lomé, Togo, later this year.
Ruto praised Pan-Africanism as a vital platform for fostering unity across the continent and the diaspora. He emphasized that it provides an opportunity for countries and organizations with shared goals to address mutual interests, such as the African Union Agenda 2063 and United Nations reforms.
Pan-Africanism is an ideal platform to harness unity within the continent and the Diaspora. It will enable countries and organisations with a common agenda to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the African Union Agenda 2063 and the reforms of the United Nations.
Held… pic.twitter.com/uPIK2SfOiQ
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 4, 2024
Raila Odinga arrived in Beijing on September 2, 2024, alongside President William Ruto to participate in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which runs from September 4 to September 6, 2024. During his visit, Raila is also scheduled to attend a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to Korir Sing’oei, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs and head of Raila’s secretariat for his African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid, Raila is not in China to lobby for support.
The 2024 FOCAC summit is being attended by at least 30 African heads of state and over 40 foreign affairs ministers.
Regarding Raila’s AUC candidacy, President Ruto officially launched his bid on August 26, 2024, at State House, Nairobi. The event was attended by East African leaders, including Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Samia Suluhu of Tanzania, and Silva Kiir of South Sudan.
Following the launch, Raila is expected to embark on a series of visits to African capitals to engage with presidents and garner support for his bid for the AUC chairmanship.
Raila faces competition from candidates such as Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Anil Gayan, and Richard James in the AUC Chairperson elections scheduled for February 2025. To secure victory, a candidate must obtain at least two-thirds of the votes, which equates to approximately 36 out of 54 votes.
