Raila Odinga's intention to be the AUC chairman is about to ripen with 28 heads of state supporting him

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been traveling to Africa in search of support in his intention to become AUC chairman
Raila will compete with Mahamoud Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar in the elections
The government, through former US ambassador to Kenya Elkanah Odembo, announced that at least 28 heads of state support Raila Odinga for the presidency

With just nine days left before the election of the African Union Commission, the candidates end their campaign.

GOVERNMENT has exposed the number of countries that support Raila Odinga for the AUC. Photo: Simon Maina.
Source: Getty Images

AUC candidate of Kenya, Raila Odingawho has shown a winning belief, will compete with Mahamoud Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.

Heads of nations from Africa will vote to elect Moussa Faki Mahamat's successor in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 15 and 16.

How many heads of state support the AUC's goal?

The former prime minister needs to get at least 33 votes from the 49 heads of the constituencies to win the seat.

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In view of this, Raila has been traveling throughout the continent to seek support from as many heads of state as possible.

His efforts have been fruitful, with approximately 28 heads of state on the continent being reported to support him.

This, according to former Kenyan ambassador to the United States, Elkanah Odembo, who also serves as co -chair of the Secretariat and PS Korir Sing'oei of Foreign Affairs.

“There is still much to be done, especially because we need to be supported by approximately two -thirds of the heads of 49 countries,” Odembo said.

The Raila campaign team earlier last year met with ambassadors from 28 African countries to secure support for its AUC candidate.

“Maalim and I will be giving honors to them. These visits are intended to make a case for a Kenyan candidate,” Odembo told the nation.

To date, among the 28 countries, known in public include Ghana, Seychelles, Guinea-Bissau, and members of the East African Community (EAC).

Does Egypt support Raila Odinga's request for AUC?

This comes a few days after Raila was facing a difficult situation when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud.

Djibouti Foreign Ministry spokesman Moussa Mohamed Omar made the announcement on Sunday, February 2.

The Djibouti spokesman further questioned Raila's documents by emphasizing Youssouf's benefits in the language.

The approval of the Djibouti candidate comes just days after the President William Ruto Visiting the capital of Egypt, Cairo to campaign for the position of the former prime minister.

President Ruto was in Egypt on January 29 for a visit that saw the two countries sign a joint resolution of strategic and detailed cooperation.

During the visit, the White House said the president asked his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to support Raila Odinga's intention to be the AUC chairman.