Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has expressed his determination to compete for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, signalling that he is ready for a fierce contest. During a speech on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at Governor Gladys Wanga’s Thanksgiving ceremony in Homa Bay County, Raila revealed his aspirations for transforming Africa. Despite opposition to his candidacy, he is prepared to face his challengers head-on.
“I was in Addis Ababa a few days ago, and I said I am ready to serve Africa. There are some who oppose me, but I told them to let us meet on the battlefield,” Raila stated, emphasizing his readiness to pursue the chairmanship.
Raila, who recently unveiled his manifesto for the AUC seat, is vying against a group of strong candidates. The main competitor is Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Youssouf, who, like Raila, is working to gain support from various African heads of state. Youssouf has been actively promoting his candidacy across the continent. However, Raila has already secured endorsements from key leaders, including Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu, and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
The AUC chairmanship race, scheduled for February 2025, also features other contenders such as Anil Gayan from Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar. Both Raila and Youssouf are making significant efforts to gain support from both North and Southern Africa to solidify their positions in the race.
During the official launch of his vision for the AUC seat in Addis Ababa on November 8, Raila outlined his transformative agenda. His leadership, he said, would aim to restore Africa’s prominence on the world stage, guided by the vision of unity held by the continent’s founding leaders.
“My leadership will be based on the dreams of our forefathers, who hoped that Africa would speak with one unified voice,” Raila remarked. He further emphasized that his administration would focus only on achievable goals, ensuring that initiatives are not just added to the agenda for show.
One of his key proposals includes addressing the travel restrictions within Africa. He criticized policies that hindered free movement within the continent while making it easier for foreign nationals to travel. Raila pledged to work towards an “open skies” policy, advocating for easier travel for Africans by establishing a regional body to handle flight permits across the continent.
Raila also highlighted Africa’s vast potential for energy, citing geothermal, wind, and solar power as sources that could be harnessed to meet the continent’s growing energy needs. Additionally, he promised to prioritize creating job opportunities for Africans if elected.
By Newshub