Thursday, May 16, 2024 –Raila Odinga’s quest to clinch the African Union Commission AUC chair continued facing hurdles as another African nation fronted more competitor.
Today Thursday May 16, Seychelles fronted their own candidate, Vincent Meriton, their former Vice President and former Foreign Affairs Minister to compete with the rest including Kenya’s Raila Odinga.
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Speaking in Nairobi while hosting Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni, President William Ruto thanked Museveni for his promise to support and vote Mr. Odinga for the coveted AUC seat.
Ruto told Museveni that Mr. Odinga remains the best man to help champion the needs of East Africa and Africa as a whole.
“I have expressed to President Museveni and the people of Uganda the appreciation of Kenyans from all walks of life for Uganda’s endorsement of the Kenyan candidate for the position of AUC Chairperson and I assured him of our full confidence that Raila will deliver effective leadership at the commission,” Ruto issued the statement.
This race has also attracted other candidates from other nations who may pose hurdles for the Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga.
Both Djibouti and Somalia recently fronted candidates whom they want to campaign for so that to deny Mr. Odinga the plum seat.
For instance, on April 9, Djibouti announced that it was fronting its Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, to vie for the position.
“Djibouti expresses faith in the capacity of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, a man of experience and a seasoned diplomat,” read the communication, in part.
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Miles away, Somalia fronted its former Foreign Minister Fawzia Adam, terming her as a seasoned diplomat fit to run the affairs of Africa.