As the race for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson seat heats up, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssef has taken his campaign to Senegal, while Kenya’s candidate, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, courts support in Egypt.
In an update on Friday, January 31, 2025, Youssef said he met with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, seeking to bolster his candidacy for the influential continental post.
“I was received today by His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of Senegal, to whom I delivered a message from President Guelleh, continuing the promotion of my candidacy for the AUC leadership,” Youssef stated on X.
A week earlier, the Djibouti candidate visited Tanzania in an effort to persuade the East African nation, which has openly backed Raila’s candidacy, to switch its support to him.
Youssef held a press conference with Tanzanian media to present his vision and his ambition for the continent after meeting the country’s president Samia Suluhu.
Raila in Egypt
Meanwhile, in Egypt, President William Ruto leveraged his official visit to advocate for Raila Odinga’s candidacy.
Ruto arrived in Cairo on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, accompanied by Raila and a high-level delegation, including Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Environment), Lee Kinyanjui (Trade), and Eric Mugaa (Water).
Raila, who has been on a diplomatic blitz across North Africa in the past week, seized the opportunity to seek Egypt’s backing in the upcoming election.
Raila was On Friday, January 24, 2025, hosted by President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania to discuss his AUC bid.
“I have been honoured as a guest in Nouakchott, Mauritania, where President H.E. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Chairperson of the African Union, has hosted me. I also had an opportunity to meet SEM. BAL Mohamed El Habib Secretary General Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During our discussions, I presented my vision centred on the unity of Africa’s people and the imperative for economic independence and prosperity,” Raila said after the meeting.
On Thursday, January 23, 2025, Raila met Tunisia’s Secretary of State Mohamed Ben Ayed to discuss his AUC bid.
In a statement, Raila said he discussed his vision for Africa with the Tunisian minister as sought the backing of the north African nation for his AUC bid.
“H.E Mr. Mohamed Ben Ayed, Secretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad of the Republic of Tunisia, has today graciously hosted me in Tunis.
“During our meeting, I shared my vision for Africa and outlined my plans to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the African Union Commission if elected as Chairperson,” Raila said.
Earlier on Wednesday, January 22, Raila was hosted by Algerian Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui in Algiers as he began his AUC campaign in north Africa.
“I have been warmly received in Algiers, by the Rt Hon Nadir Larbaoui, the Prime Minister of Algeria.
“We’ve had an opportunity to discuss and renew our mutual relations as brotherly countries. I shared my vision for the African Union and the need to further strengthen Pan Africanism for continental prosperity. Thank you Prime Minister,” Raila said.
Raila’s intensified outreach comes as the AUC Chairperson race enters its final stretch, with the crucial vote scheduled for February 15-16, 2025.
With both candidates ramping up their efforts, the contest is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched elections in African Union history.
