Kenya’s former prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga has made his pitch in his bid to grab the chairmanship of the Afrcan Union Commission (AUC).
Odinga unveiled his vision and priorities at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia as he launched his candidacy to lead the continental body over the weekend.
“This is Africa’s century” said Odinga while emphasising the significance of a united and interconnected Africa.
“Africa unity is scary. We must return unity to the top of our agenda,” Odinga admonished, noting that without continental cohesion, the continent of ver 1 billion people will continue to be marginalised.
Odinga highlighted the need to spur economic transformation across the continent, enhance intra- Africa trade, secure financial independence, and promote gender equality to realise inclusive development across the continent.
He said Africa must mobilise domestic resources to reduce reliance and overdependence on external funding.
“I will rally member states and engage the private sector to finance AU priorities, ensuring sustainable development and delivery on continental goals,” he said.
The election to choose the fifth AU Commission Chairperson is set to be held in February 2025 and the winner will succeed Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat, outgoing AUC chairperson.
“As a lifelong pan-Africanist, I will offer participatory leadership to ensure delivery of the priorities of the African peoples as envisioned in the African Union agenda 2063,” the former Kenyan prime minister said.
Odinga will be up against Djibouti foreign affairs minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the former foreign affairs ministers of Mauritius and Madagascar Anil Kumarsignh Gayan and Richard Randriamandrato respectively.
He said Africa’s youth are integral to the continent’s socio-economic progress.
“Whereas some parts of the world are experiencing declining and aging populations, Africa’s youthful population remains a comparative advantage to not only drive Africa’s growth but also bridge the global wealth gap.”
“I commit to promoting industrialization, supporting manufacturing, and enhancing innovation through investments in education, technology, healthcare, affordable energy, and skills development to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation” he said.
According to the former prime minister, realising Africa’s full potential hinges on implementing collective measures to address challenges faced by Africa’s youth and explores their capabilities as key drivers of innovation and development.
“We must harness our vast human and natural resources and integrate the energy of our youth with the vision and wisdom of our leaders,” Odinga said.
The former Kenyan prime minister also advocated for open skies, visa policy harmonisation, and infrastructure development to facilitate seamless connectivity and movement of goods and peoples across Africa.
“Each country in Africa has its own air traffic control, making air transport so expensive in Africa. It is more expensive than Europe, which has one air traffic control,” said the former prime minister.
“These are the low-hanging fruits that we can harvest without a problem,” he added.
He also underlined that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) is a transformative opportunity to establish a common market and boost intra-African trade which currently stands the lowest among other continents, hindering our economic independence and interdependence.
“Overcoming these barriers will spur economic growth and position Africa as a global economic player and leader,” he added.
Odinga, among others, served as AU High Level Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Prime Minister of Kenya and Member of Parliament and member of several mediation teams appointed by the AUC.
MG/as/APA