Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has invited Africans to tune in for the highly anticipated Mjadala Afrika debate.
In it, he will face three other candidates for the prestigious role of African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson. The seasoned politician and advocate for pan-Africanism will share the stage with three rivals: Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti, Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, and Anil Gayan of Mauritius.
In a statement on his official X account on Friday, December 13, 2024, Raila expressed excitement about the event, noting the significance of unity and reflection in addressing Africa’s challenges and celebrating its progress.
He described the debate as an opportunity to celebrate Africa’s journey of resilience and hope since 1963 while outlining a roadmap for the next four decades under the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
“As Africans, we have ages old tradition of putting our heads together in the evening to reminisce on the day that is ending and anticipate the next one. In that spirit, join me this evening as we celebrate Africa’s journey of resilience and hope from 1963 to date; and as I articulate my vision for the continent’s next 4 decades as envisaged in the AU Agenda 2063,” Raila stated.
Raila also reiterated his commitment to tackling the continent’s pressing challenges and presenting actionable solutions to advance Africa’s interests. He encouraged Africans to be part of this defining moment, calling the debate “a celebration of Africa’s century”.
“This is Africa’s Century. I am grateful for being part of this defining moment. As Africans, we have ages old tradition of putting our heads together in the evening to reminisce on the day that is ending and anticipate the next one. In that spirit, join me this evening as we celebrate Africa’s journey of resilience and hope from 1963 to date; and as I articulate my vision for the continent’s next 4 decades as envisaged in the AU Agenda 2063.,” he said.
As Africans, we have ages old tradition of putting our heads together in the evening to reminisce on the day that is ending, and anticipate the next one. In that spirit, join me this evening as we celebrate Africa’s journey of resilience and hope from 1963 to date; and as I… pic.twitter.com/reveI68q7E
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) December 13, 2024
The debate at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be broadcast live across the continent today, Friday, December 13, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm East African Time (EAT).
It will be available in six official AU languages – English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili – with the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation providing the feed for distribution to public broadcasters in member states.
The Mjadala Afrika debate is expected to highlight key issues facing the continent, including economic development, regional integration, security, climate change, and youth empowerment.
