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Former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga is set to face off with his opponents this evening in a live debate in Addis Ababa in the countdown for the election of the chairmanship the African Union Commission (AUC).

The Mjadala Africa Leadership Debate, will take place at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa from 7pm to 9pm East African Time.

The event is scheduled to bring together three key contenders for the prestigious position of AUC chairperson—Raila Odinga, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.

This high-stakes debate offers the candidates a platform to outline their vision for Africa’s future, emphasizing their leadership strategies to address the continent’s challenges and opportunities.

“I am in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia conducting rehearsals for the Mjadala Afrika Debate tomorrow evening. It’s been an occasion here to interact with my fellow contestants for the AUC Chairmanship race,” Raila said in a statement post on X.

Raila manifesto

Raila’s campaign has emphasized his transformative vision for the African Union. His manifesto includes priority areas such as advancing regional integration, promoting peace and security, addressing climate change, bolstering intra-Africa trade, and empowering youth and women.

“I look forward to highlighting my 10-point plan, which identifies priority areas that I believe will accelerate Africa’s progress towards prosperity.”

The debate will provide him with a crucial platform to unpack this agenda and convince the African electorate of his capability to steer the continent towards a prosperous future.
Elkanah Odembo, head of Raila’s campaign, expressed confidence in his candidate’s preparation and the uniqueness of his vision.

“Candidate RAO is preparing, and we are confident that Africa will see that he really does stand head and shoulders over the competitors,” said Odembo.

The Mjadala Afrika Debate will be broadcast in all six official African Union languages which includes English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili, ensuring accessibility across the continent.

This inclusivity reflects the pan-African spirit and the importance of the role of AUC Chairperson in uniting Africa’s diverse nations.

Raila’s main rivals, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Richard Randriamandrato, will also present their policy frameworks.

Youssouf, Djibouti’s foreign minister, has long been an advocate for Africa’s role in global diplomacy and development. Randriamandrato, Madagascar’s former finance minister, is expected to highlight economic development as a cornerstone of his agenda.

In Nairobi, Raila’s campaign has received widespread support. Governor Johnson Sakaja, speaking yesterday during Jamhuri day at Uhuru Gardens, extended his best wishes, emphasizing the significance of Odinga’s candidacy.

“We want to wish Raila Amolo Odinga the best in his candidacy for African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship. We also want to wish him success in tomorrow’s debate in Addis Ababa. We pray that next year we shall be joined in celebration with the new Chairman of AUC, Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.” Sakaja stated

Sakaja also highlighted the recent images of unity between Raila and Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta, stating that such moments foster investor confidence and strengthen Kenya’s peace and stability.