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Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is in The Gambia to sell his Africa Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship candidacy.

In a statement on Monday, November 25, 2024, Raila revealed that he had held a conversation with The Gambia Vice President Muhammad Jallow over his candidacy.

Raila 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 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.

This comes days after Raila met Togo President Faure Essozimna over his AUC candidacy on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

“The President of the Republic, @FEGnassingbe granted this Thursday, November 21, 2024, an audience to the former Prime Minister of Kenya, @RailaOdinga. At the center of the discussions, are the political and security situation in Africa as well as the challenges of economic and social development on the continent,” Togo’s presidential communication service stated.

“The two personalities notably addressed several issues relating to infrastructure, intra-African trade, visa facilitation, climate change, culture, and transport. Moreover, on this point, the Kenyan official congratulated the Head of State for his leadership in the operationalization of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).”

Raila made a case for the integration of the youth in areas including artificial intelligence.

“We also believe that it is possible to offer opportunities to young people, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and ICT,” Raila is quoted as saying.

The statement added that the former Lang’ata Member of Parliament asked the Togolese government to support his AUC candidature.

“Finally, Raila Odinga officially requested Togo’s support for his candidacy for the presidency of the Commission of the African Union (AU), one of the main organs of the continental body,” the statement concluded.

Raila in West Africa

Raila kicked off his outreach programme on the West African side of the continent on Thursday, November 21, 2024. His first meeting 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.

So far, Raila has received direct endorsement from most East African heads of state led by President William Ruto, Uganda’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.