Raila meets Senegal’s president in bid to secure support for his AUC bid

Kenya’s African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship candidate, Raila Odinga, has taken his campaigns to Senegal in the race to succeed the outgoing Moussa Faki of Chad.

Raila, in a statement shared via his official X account on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, revealed that he had met Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar.

Raila woos Senegal

Raila says that he had discussed his AUC chairmanship candidature with President Diomaye, as well as his vision for Africa.

The former Prime Minister further revealed that the Senegalese Head of State had also shared his ideas on how to build a united, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.

“Thank you, H.E. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal @PR_Diomaye for the warm welcome in Dakar. It was an honour discussing with you my candidature for the Chairmanship of the African Union Commission and the vision I have for our continent. I was delighted to hear your ideas on how to build a united, peaceful, and prosperous Africa,” Raila stated.

Thank you H.E. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal @PR_Diomaye for the warm welcome in Dakar. It was an honour discussing with you my candidature for the Chairmanship of the African Union Commission and the vision I have for our continent. I was delighted to hear your… pic.twitter.com/0fzwvbQPAc

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) November 26, 2024

Raila’s campaign

Raila’s meeting with President Diomaye comes just a day after he sold his AUC chairmanship candidacy in The Gambia.

Raila, in a statement shared via his social media accounts on Monday, November 25, revealed that he had held a conversation with The Gambia Vice President Muhammad Jallow over his candidacy.

He also held a conversation with The Gambia President Adama Barrow over the phone since he was not physically available to meet the former premier.

“I had the honour of meeting Muhammad Jallow, the vice president of The Gambia, who also accorded me a warm reception. President Adama Barrow, who was on a tour of the regions, graciously called me on the phone as well. We discussed my candidature for the AUC Chairmanship and the vision I have for the transformation of our continent if elected,” Raila stated.

Kenya’s veteran opposition leader has been wooing West Africa for votes ahead of the upcoming February 2025 AUC polls.

Raila met Togo President Faure Gnassingbe over his AUC candidacy on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

His first meeting in West Africa was held in Benin, where he engaged the country’s Foreign Minister, Olusegun Adjadi Bakari.

On Friday, November 22, 2024, Raila flew to Accra, Ghana, ready to participate in the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) meeting.

Raila is among the frontrunners alongside Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf in the battle to succeed outgoing AUC chairperson Moussa Faki.