Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has made tremendous efforts to consolidate his base ahead of the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson’s elections scheduled for February 2025.
Raila, who is among the candidates looking to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat, has pitched camp in West Africa where he is seeking to secure support from the region to keep his dream alive.
As part of his strategy for establishing rapport with various heads of state, the former Prime Minister met with Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé,
In a statement on Saturday, November 23, 2024, Raila revealed that discussed various challenges facing the continent and then suggested possible solutions to addressing them.
The two leaders also explored different opportunities available in the continent and how to maximise them for economic development.
Raila also pitched his candidacy to President Gnassingbé and broke down his vision of transforming the continent.
“I had fruitful deliberations with President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, on the opportunities, challenges, and possible solutions to issues facing the African continent. My engagement with leaders across the continent is part of my outreach programme to rally support for my African Union Chairperson bid,” Raila’s statement read in part.
Inroads 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.
During their meeting, Raila shared his vision on agriculture, infrastructure and technology to unite and amplify the voice of Africa if elected as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, Raila flew to Accra, Ghana ready to participate in the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) meeting.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli was among the key speakers at the event in Ghana where Raila was also present.
“During this meeting, OATUU unanimously endorsed the candidature of Raila Odinga for the position of African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson.
“The endorsement is grounded in Raila Odinga’s rich historical association with trade unions and his demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of workers across the continent. His pledge to revive the African Union Commission for Labour and Social Affairs Committee resonates strongly with the aspirations of Africa’s working class,” Atwoli announced in a statement on Friday November 22, 2024.
Raila is capitalising on the meetings to sell his agenda and convince the respective presidents to throw their weight behind his candidature.
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.
