- The former prime minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, is in Addis Ababa to officially launch his quest for the continent
- Raila wants to lead the secretariat of the African Union as the chairman of the commission of the continental council
- His public appearance came after weeks of speculation, with some claiming he was ill and flown out of the country for treatment.
A veteran politician Raila Odinga he is in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, before launching his quest for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Source: Twitter
Secretariat of the campaign Raila is expected to launch the former prime minister's bid on Friday, November 8.
Why Raila Odinga is in Addis Ababa
According to information read by TUKO.co.ke, Raila's campaign team is set to organize a series of events before he is officially introduced as the official candidate for Kenya of the post of AUC chairman.
Besides these events, Raila will interact with the main actors, groups and partners of the AU, during which he will explain his vision and priorities in Africa according to the 2063 Agenda of the AU.
Raila is also set to deliver a keynote speech at the grand Campaign Reception, which will be held at the AU Multipurpose Hall on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, November 7, a day before the main event, Raila joined President William Ruto in Addis Ababa, where they both attended the breakfast meeting of the Informal Consultation on the Reform of African Union Institutions.
Raila's public appearance after several weeks of inactivity followed rumors that he had been sick and taken abroad for treatment.
The inauguration of his candidate in Addis Ababa comes two months after that of Nairobiwhere the government officially approved his ambition.
He is expected to compete with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar Richard Randriamandrato and Anil Gayan of Mauritius. R
Inside the AU secretariat
The AUC is made up of a chairman, deputy chairman and commissioners, as well as staff.
The parliament, which includes the heads of state and government, elects their president and vice president.
The Executive Council elects commissioners appointed by Parliament.
The terms of the members of the Commission are for four years, they can be renewed once.
What is Raila's position in the AUC race?
Raila, who served as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development for five years between 2018 and 2023, will need the support of either consensus or at least two-thirds of the votes by member states represented by their heads.
Other countries whose presidents support his ambition (Raila) are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Somalia, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Burundi, Seychelles, Ghana, South Sudan, Guinea Bissau, Angola , and Congo.
If he wins, Raila will adhere to the code of ethics of the chairmanship, which states that the holder of the office should take a back seat in the politics of their country and, at the same time, remain neutral in African social and political positions.
The position is currently held by the former prime minister of Chad Moussa Faki, who was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
