Raila Odinga has intensified his campaigns for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson seat in the southern Africa region ahead of the February 2025 elections.
The former premier was on Thursday, January 16, 2025, hosted by South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa in his Pretoria official residence.
“I am grateful for the warm reception I have received from my brother H.E President Cyril Ramaphosa
@CyrilRamaphosa when I met him in Pretoria, South Africa today,” Raila said following his meeting with the South African president.
According to Raila, he discussed his vision for Africa with Ramaphosa while presenting his campaign agenda and seeking his endorsement.
“We have discussed my vision for the continent, and I got an opportunity to outline my plan for the African Union Commission (AUC) anchored on 10 priority areas,” Raila said.
Over the past few days, Raila has visited multiple nations as his campaigns target the crucial Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.
Earlier before visiting Ramaphosa in Pretoria, Raila had an engagement with Botswana’s President Duma Boko in Gaborone same Thursday, January 16, 2025.
“I continued with my AUC chairperson campaigns in the SADC region with a stop in Botswana. H.E President Duma Boko is hosting us in Gaborone,” Raila wrote on his official X account.
On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Raila met with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba at the State House in Windhoek.
The former Prime Minister shared that he used the opportunity to discuss his agenda for Africa, and his AUC Chairmanship candidature.
“We thank H.E President Dr Nangolo Mbumba @DrNangoloMbumba of Namibia for hosting us at Statehouse in Windhoek. We used the opportunity to discuss our African Agenda and my African Union Chairmanship candidature,” Raila said in a statement.
On Monday, January 13, 2025, Raila was in Zimbabwe, where he held talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare.
During the meeting, Raila shared his manifesto for the AUC leadership.
“We landed in Harare, Zimbabwe today to a warm reception courtesy of H.E President Emmerson Mnangagwa @edmnangagwa It’s been a pleasure sharing with the president my vision for Africa and discussing my candidature for the AUC Chairmanship,” Raila wrote on X.
The former Prime Minister kicked off his SADC region tour in Mauritius on January 6, 2025, where he secured the island nation’s backing for his AUC bid.
“Thank you, Hon. Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, for hosting me and for your unequivocal support towards my candidature for the African Union Commission Chairperson,” Raila wrote.
Raila’s AUC candidature
The Kenyan government has intensified its campaign for Raila Odinga ahead of the upcoming AUC elections in February 2025.
In a statement on Friday, January 10, 2025, moments after meeting Raila’s AUC secretariate, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the team had mapped out the critical next steps, focusing on broadening the country’s outreach.
“I chaired a meeting to review the progress we are making in advancing Rt. Hon. @RailaOdinga‘s bid for the African Union Commission Chairperson position.
“Hon. Odinga’s Secretariat presented impressive progress since Kenya launched its candidature in August last year, outlining key milestones and a strategic roadmap for the final push ahead of the AUC elections in February 2025,” Mudavadi stated.
“I applauded the Secretariat and the State Department for Foreign Affairs for their collaborative efforts in building robust momentum toward securing Kenya’s leadership at the helm of the African Union Commission.
“Together, we mapped out the critical next steps, focusing on broadening our outreach and strengthening partnerships with AUC member states. With confidence and unity, we remain steadfast in delivering a transformative leader for Africa,” he added.
In January 2025 alone, President Ruto secured the endorsement of three countries for Raila’s AUC candidacy.
The recently elected President of Botswana Duma Boko vowed to support Raila after a meeting with Ruto on January 8, 2025.
Togo’s President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe also promised to support Raila’s candidature after meeting Ruto on January 7, 2025.
Ruto also attended the inauguration of Ghana’s new president John Dramani Mahama on January 7, 2025, after he endorsed Raila’s bid for the AUC Chairperson position.
Earlier, Ruto hosted President Mahama at his Kilgoris home, Narok County on Sunday, December 29, 2024, where they discussed Raila’s AUC candidature among other issues.
As of December 2024, Raila had secured the support of at least 25 African leaders for his AUC bid.
To be elected AUC Chairperson, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority during voting by the 55 member states.
Raila will need at least 36 votes out of the total 55, with each AU member state casting only one vote.
