Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position is gaining traction, with the Panel of Eminent Persons set to formally announce the vacancies in the commission this week.
The panel has been convening to plan the process leading up to the election scheduled for February 2025. Alongside Raila, Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Youssuf and former Somalia Foreign Affairs Minister Fawzia Adam are also contenders in the race.
The AUC bid campaign team member for Raila Odinga disclosed that the job postings will be live for a period of four weeks. It will be clear after this time if further candidates have entered the contest.
Raila Odinga’s documents are currently being finalized by the team in order to submit them. Their intention is to submit shortly after the formal announcement is made public. The application procedure entails completing an online form and providing the necessary notification.
“The Raila Odinga AUC bid campaign team is finalising his documents in preparation for submission, our plan is to submit soon after the notification is out, the application includes a form to be filled online together with the notice,” he said.
The candidates’ manifesto, which encapsulates their vision, goal, and priorities, as well as a curriculum vitae that highlights their qualifications, experience, and other traits, are among the required documents.
In an attempt to garner support for Raila’s candidacy, President William Ruto has been traveling throughout Africa in shuttle diplomacy, assisted by opposition leader and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Raila Odinga has leveraged his extensive network across Africa to campaign for the AUC position, garnering support from influential leaders such as Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
Additionally, he has secured endorsements from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir. Raila has intensified his travels across the continent to engage with as many presidents as possible, aiming to bolster his chances of securing the AUC position.
He officially declared his bid for the AUC position at his Nairobi residence, alongside former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he expressed his readiness to serve the continent.
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