Raila faces three contenders for AU top job

Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga will face off with three other contenders in his bid for the African Union Commission’s chairman position.

The African Union had set August 6, as the deadline for candidates vying for eight senior AUC positions to submit their credentials, which has since lapsed.

Raila will run against Mahmoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti, Anil Kumarsingh Gayan of Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.

The four will seek to succeed outgoing Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who has served two terms of four years each after reports indicated that Somalia and Seychelles pulled out their candidates.

Six other persons have declared interest in running for Deputy Chairperson and another six for the Commissioner’s position. “I signed off my AUC Chair application documents. We are focused on bringing the seat home for Kenya and serving the African people,” said Raila, when he signed the documents on July 27.

Raila has been receiving delegations from the globe in his office, as he builds a strong base for the hotly contested race. “Had productive discussions with Germany’s Ambassador Sebastian Groth and UK High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan on recent developments and my AU Commission candidacy. We all agree: a strong and stable Africa benefits us all. Grateful for Germany and the UK’s continued commitment to engagement,” he said on Tuesday.

Raila’s application was presented by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei to the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union through the Dean of Eastern Region Dharmraj Busgeeth.

“Under the authority of the Government of Kenya and as per the Statutes and Rules of the African Union Commission, we have formally submitted requisite documentation of Kenya’s nominee for the Chairmanship of African Union, Raila Amolo Odinga,” Dr Sing’oei said in a statement after presenting the application. 

The PS said Kenya has offered Raila for the position, a decision informed by his Pan-African credentials, his suitability, vast network across the region and proven competencies to lead AUC. “He has served as Prime Minister and in various ministerial portfolios and importantly, as the High Representative of the AUC Chairperson in Infrastructure. He has observed several elections in Africa and has served as a peace mediator in several countries,” said the PS.

Some of the areas he seeks to cover include Africa integration and infrastructure development, economic transformation, enhancing intra-Africa trade, financial independence, gender equity and equality, peace and stability, youth empowerment agenda for Africa as well as climate action.

Also on Tuesday, President William Ruto separately said Kenya and Mauritius will collaborate to advocate for reforms within the African Union to ensure it is fit for purpose. “I had productive discussions with the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on AU reforms and Kenya’s bid for the AU Commission Chair,” the President said.

Raila and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi held a meeting in June over the campaign for Kenya’s candidacy to AUC. Mudavadi said the government would back Raila for the position.

He described Raila as a Pan-Africanist, who also advocates for ‘Think Africa above all’ guiding principle of the AU Commission, and is a visionary leader who will fire up reforms at the African Union to become a more people-centred organisation. 

Mudavadi was also confident that Raila will pursue excellence in line with the continent’s collective aspirations of “The Africa We Want” in 2063. The CS also assured that Raila’s candidature has been positively received and that Ruto has energised Kenya’s foreign policy.

Raila lauded the government’s support, saying the goal is to succeed in this quest. He said his 5 years’ experience as AU representative in infrastructure and development, gave him an understanding of the organisation’s determination to see a united and developed Africa.

The AUC Chairperson is the Chief Executive Officer, legal representative of the AU and the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer and is directly responsible to the Executive Council for the discharge of his or her duties.

The Chairperson of the Commission is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once. Election is by secret ballot and a two-thirds majority of Member States are eligible to vote.

The Commission indicated that only names of candidates submitted by the region will be considered in the pre-selection process undertaken by the Panel of Eminent Africans.

Similarly, only member states that are not under AU sanctions are allowed to submit candidates. The AU Commission elections will take place in February next year during the African Union Summit.