Raila Odinga officially unveiled his vision for Africa Union on Friday, November 8, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Raila who is the Kenyan candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship was accompanied by government officials including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei.

Speaking on his vision for Africa, Raila indicated that his leadership would be characterised by a transformative agenda which will seek to restore Africa’s glory in the global stage.

“My leadership will be pegged on the dreams of our forefathers who expected that by now, Africa would roar in one united voice,” Raila remarked, “We will not put anything in the agenda if we know it will not be implemented.”

Raila decried the travel restrictions in the continent, noting that some of the policies had made it difficult for Africans to travel in their own land, but had given foreigners sweeping liberties from the bureaucracies of travel.

Visa restrictions

Raila said that during his leadership, should he ascend to be the chairperson of the African Commission, he would like to see an Africa that abolishes visa requirements for Africans.

“These are some of the barriers that make us look stupid,” Raila said.

He equally noted that he would advocate for an Africa with open skies, further clearing the travel restrictions for Africans by creating a regional body to handle all overflight and landing permits in the continent.

On energy, Raila stated that Africa has the biggest potential for energy in the world by utilising the various sources including geothermal, wind and solar.

He remarked that under his leadership of the AUC, he would advocate for the harmonisation of electricity prices to spur growth and industrialisation in the continent.

Jobs for the youth

Additionally, Raila challenged the Asian giant economies that Africa had woken up from slumber and was coming to take its rightful place in the global economy.

He said that with a youthful population of over 70 per cent, Africa could easily be the next China if the individual countries in the continent committed to tooling the youth with the right skills for the next phase of industrialisation in Africa.

Raila reiterated his push for unity in the continent and urged political leaders across the continent to come together to ensure the mobilisation of resources for African courses.

Raila indicated also that African problems would only be solved by Africans and that one of the first agenda he would pursue once elected was the abolishment of travel restrictions in the continent to spur business and encourage interactions.

Raila was flanked by youthful members of Parliament from South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya during the official launch of his manifesto for the African Union Commission.

To ascend to the coveted continental seat, Raila will need 66 per cent of the votes which is equivalent to 32 countries voting in his favour.

 The other candidates Raila is set to battle it out with include Mohamoud Youssouf of Djibouti, Anil Gayan of Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.