President William Ruto on Saturday, January 25, 2025, confirmed that Guinea Bissau endorses the candidature of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the African Union Commission (AUC).
Speaking at the State House during a joint press statement with the visiting Guinea-Bissau President Sissoco Embaló, Ruto thanked the West African head of state for endorsing and drumming up support for Odinga in the region.
“I want to thank you more sincerely for supporting Kenya’s candidature for the African Union Commission (AUC) as I informed you early last year; and to in a very special way, recognize your efforts in not only supporting Raila Odinga but also canvassing support for him in Western Africa,” Ruto said.
“We thank you for that friendship and brotherhood that you have demonstrated.”
Student exchanges
Ruto assured the visiting head of state of bilateral trade and agreements, stating that Kenya will open its doors for students from Guinea-Bissau to participate in the country’s education system.
Equally, Ruto also committed to looking into bilateral trade ties with Guinea-Bissau and working on a plan to open direct flights between the two countries for trade, tourism and exchange of goods and services.
“This state visit has provided a valuable opportunity to explore avenues for trade and investment in Kenya and Guinea-Bissau. We acknowledge the immense potential that exists in leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area and other continental infrastructure including the recently concluded tripartite agreement that has now come into force, which brings together COMESA, EAC and SADC, and presents a market of close to 800 million people,” Ruto stated.
“Together, we are committed to harness the potential that the trade and investment infrastructure provides both for us as a region, for Kenya as a country and for Guinea-Bissau as a friendly nation working with us.”
President Embaló was accorded a 21-gun salute at the State House before he inspected a guard of honour mounted specially for visiting heads of state.
Odinga’s AUC support base
The West African head of state is in the country almost a year after Ruto visited Guinea-Bissau on April 4, 2024, for a three-day tour where he discussed social and economic areas of partnership between the two countries.
In supporting Odinga’s candidature, Guinea-Bissau now adds to the growing list of nations that have committed to voting for the former Prime Minister in February 2025 at the summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa.
Some of the countries that have openly supported Odinga include: Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Algeria, Seychelles, Congo, DRC, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Malawi, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Equatorial-Guinea, Mauritius and Togo among others.
