Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has visited President Isaias Afwerki in Asmara seeking Eritrea’s backing for his bid for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
In a statement shared via his X account on Saturday, December 7, 2024, Raila expressed gratitude to President Afwerki for the warm reception and reassurances he received during the visit.
Raila emphasized his commitment to strengthening Pan-Africanism. He highlighted his vision for the continent, which focuses on enhancing connectivity to ease the movement of people and goods and expanding opportunities for African youth.
“Thank you H.E Isaias Afwerki, President of Eritrea for your warm reception and assurances in Asmara as I came to seek your support for my AUC bid. My vision is to strengthen the bonds of Pan Africanism through the AU by enhancing connectivity to facilitate the movement of people and goods. We must take advantage of the moment to expand opportunities for the African Youth,” Raila wrote.
As he ramps up his campaign to become the next AU chairman, Raila also visited Côte d’Ivoire on November 27, 2024, to seek the support of President Alassane Ouattara.
During the visit, Raila and Ouattara engaged in talks centred on critical issues affecting Africa, including infrastructure development, visa-free travel, and boosting intra-African trade.
“His Excellency Alassane Ouattara hosted me in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. We discussed our shared concerns over our continent and the need to identify and prioritize transformational projects such as infrastructure, visa-free movements, and intra-African trade, which can ensure sustainable development and prosperity for all African nations,” Raila wrote on X.
Adding;
“I took the opportunity to update the president on my campaigns in West Africa and seek his support for my bid to be elected Chairperson of the African Union Commission,” he added.
The race for the AUC chair has gained momentum as Raila seeks to consolidate support across the continent ahead of the elections in February 2025.
The position involves steering the AU’s agenda on issues such as peace, development, and integration.
Debate
Raila Odinga is set to face three rivals on December 13, 2024, for a debate, as they compete for the role of African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson. The televised Mjadala Afrika debate, hosted at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, will feature Raila alongside Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti), Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar), and Anil Gayan (Mauritius).
Starting at 7:00 pm EAT, the debate will air live across Africa in six official AU languages: English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili. The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation will provide the feed, ensuring public broadcasters across member states can transmit it live.
