•Raila is eyeing the seat to replace incumbent AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad for the elections scheduled for February 2025
•On Friday, Angola's ambassador to Kenya Sianga Abilio hinted that the country will support Raila's candidacy for the position
Image: PCS
Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s bid to become the next chairperson of the African Union Commission has received a major boost.
This is after Guinea Bissau and Angola threw weight behind Raila's candidacy.
On Friday, Angola's ambassador to Kenya Sianga Abilio hinted that the country will support Raila's candidacy for the position.
Abilio was speaking during Angola’s 22nd anniversary of peace and national reconciliation held at Angola's Embassy in Nairobi.
"I am going to give you a straight answer but I just want you to know that Angola is aware and is working on that issue and they will not let Kenya country as a brother down," he said.
This was hours after the President of Guinea Bissau accepted to support Kenya’s candidature for the position of AUC Chairperson for the 2025-2028 period.
“Kenya’s candidature is informed by the role we play in enhancing and sustaining the Pan-African agenda," President Ruto said.
"We hope to work with all member States in the African Union’s endeavour to achieve Agenda 2063,” he said.
Ruto said Kenya’s candidature is informed by the country’s leading role in enhancing and sustaining the Pan-African Agenda in terms of independence and sovereignty, peace and security, development and prosperity, and sustainability and climate action.
On Thursday, Ruto secured Ghana’s support for Raila’s bid during his State visit to the country.
Raila is eyeing the seat to replace incumbent AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad for the elections scheduled for February 2025.
Should he clinch the seat, he will serve until 2028 for a four-year term.
Raila’s candidature received a boost after the African Union Executive Council unanimously resolved that candidates for the position of the next chairperson of the AU Commission would be nominated by the Eastern African regional States.
The resolution on March 15, 2024, was in accordance with the Statute of the AU Commission, the Rules of Procedure, the African Union policy organs and the decisions of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government.
During Ruto's state visit to Guinea-Bissau, the two countries have agreed to implement far-reaching policies that will boost trade between the two countries.
Ruto said Kenya and Guinea-Bissau are keen on implementing the Memorandum of Understanding that established a Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) signed in 2022.
He further noted that enhanced collaboration between the private sectors of both nations will significantly boost trade volumes.
Ruto made the remarks on Friday during a press briefing following bilateral talks with his Guinea-Bissau counterpart President General Umaro Sissoco Embalo.