Kenya has launched a spirited campaign abroad for the support of African countries to endorse former prime minister Raila Odinga as the next chairperson of the African Union Commission.
To this end Kenyan president William Ruto met his Senegalese counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Faye on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future in New York ahead of the 79th United Nations General Assembly next weekend.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, a former prime minister of Chad has been AUC chairperson since 2017 but will be leaving the post following his re-election in February 2021 for a second four-year term.
The election of the fifth AUC chairperson takes place by secret ballot in February 2025.
The man looking to replace Mahamat, 79-year-old Mr Odinga, an opponent of President Ruto in the 2022 election is part of the Kenyan delegation to the UN general assembly.
Ruto confirmed that while in New York, he had discussed Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission Chairperson with President Faye.
Smiling both leaders emerged from the meeting holding hands.
”We will deepen our ties with Senegal to advance shared goals in peace, development and continental integration” Ruto said in a statement.
Odinga’s opponents for the AUC role are Anil Gayan, former foreign minister of Mauritius, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, current foreign minister of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato, ex foreign minister of Madagascar.
The Seychellian and Somali contenders withdrew from the race.
The AU Executive Council had announced the turn of East Africa to produce the next AUC chairperson after the past four had hailed from west, central and southern Africa.
WN/as/APA