Details of Raila’s meeting with Republic of Congo’s president
By Lutta Njomo, August 17, 2024The Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has continued to make inroads in the continent in a bid to secure support for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship position.
In his latest round of engagements, Raila visited the Republic of Congo where he was hosted by President Sassou Nguesso.
According to Prof Makau Mutua who has been accompanying the Opposition leader in major continental meetings, the Republic of Congo’s President made Raila’s path to AUC smooth.
However, Makau Mutua did not immediately reveal if President Nguesso had endorsed Raila’s AUC candidature.
“His Excellency President Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo hosted Raila Odinga to discuss his candidacy for the AUC in a very successful visit. We thank President Nguesso for making the road to the AUC that much smoother,” Makau Mutua wrote on X on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
DRC endorsement
The meeting comes just a day after Raila secured an endorsement from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Thursday, August 15, 2024, through his official channels, Raila Odinga announced that DRC President Felix Tshisekedi had thrown his weight behind his candidature.
This is after the two leaders met and discussed critical issues including security and Raila’s vision for AUC.
“I thank him for his endorsement,” Raila stated.
I met with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi today to discuss my AUC bid.
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) August 15, 2024
Our conversation centered on the foundational issues of security, development, and climate change—essential for creating lasting prosperity and advancing our shared future.
I thank him for his endorsement. pic.twitter.com/b0Uvb7vZT8
Other notable endorsement
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is among the East African leaders who have openly supported Raila’s candidature.
Kagame acknowledged that Odinga exhibited a stellar performance record as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development and is well qualified for the chairperson position.
“I respect Raila Odinga I respect his struggles he did a good job of that, [and had] full grasp of it. We will give him our support and wish him well,” Kagame stated.
“And not only the support to be there but even when he is there, we’ll give him support for Africa to succeed.”
In February 2024, Raila also announced that he had secured support from Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. This is after he traveled with President Ruto and engaged Museveni in Uganda.
“Several days ago, I accepted an invitation from President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for a joint meeting with President William Ruto today to discuss the deepening of the regional integration within the East African Community,” Raila’s post read in part.
“Crucially, at the urging of President Museveni, we also discussed my candidacy for Chairperson of the African Union Commission. I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it,” he added.