Kenya has formally submitted the nomination of Raila Odinga, a prominent opposition leader and former prime minister, for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) in elections scheduled for February 2025. The announcement was made by Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, on Monday.
Sing’Oei confirmed that Odinga’s application had been submitted to Dharmraj Busgeeth, the Dean of the Eastern Region and Ambassador of Mauritius. “Under the authority of the Government of Kenya and in accordance with the Statutes and Rules of the African Union Commission, we have today formally submitted the requisite documentation for Kenya’s nominee for the Chairmanship of the African Union,” Sing’Oei said.
The AUC chairperson’s position will become vacant in February 2025 when the current chair, Moussa Faki of Chad, completes his second term. Faki, who first assumed the role in 2017, was re-elected for a second term in 2021. The Chairperson of the AUC is elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for a four-year term, renewable once. Following the principle of inter-regional rotation, it is now Eastern Africa’s turn to present candidates for the chairperson role. Odinga’s candidacy comes at a pivotal time for the continent, which continues to face economic challenges, environmental issues, conflicts, terrorism, and social discord, compounded by geopolitical tensions, according to the Kenyan foreign ministry.
“Perhaps at no time in the history of the African Union has the continent needed a more visionary leader, an accomplished statesman, and a quintessential pan-Africanist,” the ministry stated.
Odinga, who has contested the Kenyan presidency five times without success, is expected to face competition from three other candidates from the Eastern Africa bloc: Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Youssouf, Somali lawmaker Fawzia Yusuf, and former Vice President of Seychelles Vincent Meriton.
In addition to his presidential bids, Odinga has held roles as prime minister, various ministerial positions, and most recently, served as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure.
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