Somali has dealt former prime minister Raila Odinga a big blow in his bid for the African Union Commission chairship.
As Raila toured West Africa to campaign for the seat, reports emerged that Kenya’s neighbour, Somalia, would not support him.
Somalia, a member of the East African Community (EAC), will defy the block and vote for Raila’s main opponent, Mahmoud Youssouf, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Djibouti.
Former Somalia Foreign Affairs Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam had on 9 August backed Mr Odinga’s candidature for the African Union Commission Chairperson seat.
This came after Fawzia, who also previously served as Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, had been a contender for the seat but later pulled out of the race.
Taking to her social media platforms, Fawzia had expressed her optimism for Mr. Odinga’s triumph in the AUC Chair election, promising him her support.
Raila is competing against Youssouf, former minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, and Madagascar’s former minister Richard James Randriamandrato in the February 2025 election.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi were yesterday left with an egg on their faces after President William Ruto.
Last month, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had defended the contracts with the Indian firm, saying its operations were above board. He described Adani as a reputable company with a strong track record in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
Speaking at the side-lines of the ODM Party Delegates Conference at Pride Inn Paradise in Shanzu, Mombasa, Raila recalled his first interaction with Adani during his tenure as Prime Minister.
He highlighted several of Adani’s successful PPP projects in India, particularly in Gujarat and Mumbai, which he visited during his tenure. He recalled how he was introduced to the company’s infrastructure initiatives by Narendra Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
“The Adani conglomerate is worth over 200 billion US dollars. If individuals made mistakes, let them own up, but we should not condemn companies that are merely conducting normal commercial activities,” Raila said.
The former premier hailed the company’s prowess in infrastructure development, referencing its transformation of Mumbai’s international airport from a dilapidated facility to a world-class hub.
Ruto’s decision came after Adani was indicted in New York. During the stormy meeting at the Senate members were divided on the matter with calls for the government to pull out amid the allegations against the investor.
By Creatorhub