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Kenya’s African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship candidate Raila Odinga on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, pitched camp in Chad.

Raila was hosted by President Mahamat Idriss Déby as he campaigned to succeed the outgoing Moussa Faki in the upcoming February 2025 AUC elections.

Taking to his official X account account, the former Prime Minister revealed some of the key issues he had discussed with the president of Chad.

He stated that issues touching on his AUC candidature were top on the list of the discussions.

Raila says he emphasized the need to unite Africa using infrastructure, intra-African trade, and addressing visa policies to ease the movement of people and goods.

“I continued with my AUC campaigns in Chad today, where H.E President Mahamat Idriss Déby extended a warm reception for me. We discussed issues touching on my African Union Commission (AUC) candidature. I emphasized the need to unite Africa using infrastructure, intra-African trade, and addressing visa policies to ease the movement of people and goods. It will take the goodwill of all of us, leaders and citizens working together to dismantle barriers and foster unity, to amplify our voice as Africa to get to our rightful position on the global stage,” Raila stated.

He went ahead to state that he had also shared his vision for the youth whom he says are the driving force behind innovation and change in the African continent.

“I shared too my vision for the youth, placing them at the centre stage as the driving force behind innovation and change in the continent. I envision vibrant cities buzzing with energy as young entrepreneurs leverage technology and creativity to build dynamic businesses. President Mahamat expressed his gratitude for my visit and shared his appreciation for my vision, which prioritizes African solutions to the continent’s challenges,” Raila said.

I continued with my AUC campaigns in Chad today, where H.E
President Mahamat Idriss Déby extended a warm reception for me.

We discussed issues touching on my African Union Commission (AUC) candidature. I emphasized the need to unite Africa using infrastructure, intra-African… pic.twitter.com/toyb4xLp94

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) December 10, 2024

AU leadership debate

His campaigns in Chad comes just two days to the highly anticipated African Union Leadership debate dubbed Mjadala Afrika, which is scheduled for Friday, December 13, 2024.

The 2024 edition of the Mjadala Afrika Debate is set to be a landmark event in the lead-up to the election of the new Chairperson of the AUC as the term of the current Commission comes to an end in February 2025.

The debate will happen at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and aims to provide a vital platform for candidates to discuss their visions and proposals for addressing the continent’s most pressing challenges, guided by the continental development framework, Agenda 2063.

The debate will feature a panel of candidates who will respond to questions posed by two moderators (one English and one French speaking).

They will also answer a few questions from online participants of the debate.

The interactive format is designed to encourage transparency and foster direct engagement between candidates and the African people.

Each candidate will have the opportunity to present their vision and elaborate on their policy proposals. The much-anticipated debate will commence at 7:00 pm. 

Raila’s rivals

Raila who has so far received public endorsement from several heads of state will square it out with Richard Mahitsison Randriamandrato and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.

Randriamandrato was Madagascar’s foreign minister from March to October 2022. He served also as a minister of economy and finance from 2019 until 2021 where he focused on economic policies aimed at stabilizing and developing Madagascar’s economy.

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf was nominated by Djibouti for the position of chairperson and is viewed as a fierce rival to Raila in the upcoming AUC race scheduled for February 2025.