Staff Reporter
Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare yesterday, seeking support for his bid to become the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson. Odinga is one of three candidates vying to succeed Moussa Faki, who has held the position since 2017.
Speaking after the meeting, Odinga expressed optimism that Zimbabwe and the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) would back his candidature.
“I have come to announce my candidature and to ask for support from Zimbabwe and SADC by extension,” he said.
Odinga later shared on social media, “It has been a pleasure sharing my vision for Africa with President Mnangagwa and discussing my candidature for the AUC chairmanship.”
As the current SADC Chairperson, President Mnangagwa’s support is pivotal in influencing the regional bloc’s endorsement of Odinga’s bid.
The African Union (AU) recently granted East Africa the right to nominate the next AUC chairperson, emphasizing equitable regional representation as part of its broader reforms aimed at transparency and merit-based leadership.
Odinga has been touring the continent to rally support for his candidacy, with plans to visit other Southern African nations after Zimbabwe. He highlighted Africa’s shared challenges and the need for collective solutions.
“Africa can only be developed by Africans. We must have a clear roadmap for integration and harness the continent’s abundant resources,” Odinga said.
He emphasized Africa’s youthful population as a transformative force and called for unity among the continent’s 55 states.
The AUC chairperson will be elected by secret ballot at the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 25.
Odinga’s visit underscores the significance of regional diplomacy in securing leadership roles within the AU. His campaign highlights the importance of collective African development, equitable representation, and strategic resource utilization for the continent’s advancement.
As the race for the AUC chair heats up, the focus remains on uniting Africa’s regions to achieve a common vision for progress and self-reliance.
