- Youssouf paid a courtesy call to Museveni seeking his support in his bid as the Africa Union Commission chairman.
- Museveni said he had made it clear that he would be supporting the Kenyan candidate.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has recalled the visit from Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf saying he did not endorse him for the African Union chairperson job.
Image: SCREENSHOT
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has recalled the visit from Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Youssouf saying he did not endorse him for the African Union chairperson job.
Youssouf paid a courtesy call to Museveni seeking his support in his bid as the Africa Union Commission chairman.
Speaking on Tuesday at the State House, Nairobi, during the unveiling of Raila Odinga as AUC candidate, Museveni said he had made it clear that he would be supporting the Kenyan candidate.
"Before I came there was a young man from Djibouti who came to tell me he was their candidate. Of Course, I greeted him warmly, we took photographs, and had a cup of tea," he said.
"But I told him I was coming here (to Kenya) to support Raila because he is the candidate fit for this job."
Museveni said the AUC chairperson position is a job for vision, conviction and knowledge.
On Monday, Raila promised to collaborate with all African leaders to reorganize the continent into a union or federation.
Raila vowed to unite African leaders to curb economic hunger and unleash the continent’s potential.
Raila noted that half a century ago, Africa's grandparents fought to liberate the people from foreign rule, and today, they must fight to liberate themselves from their fears.
"The fear that makes it so hard for Africa to trade with itself. The fear that makes it so hard for an African to visit another African country. The fear that makes it so hard to fly from Nairobi to Lagos. The fear makes it impossible to travel across the continent by train," Raila said.
Raila reflected on the struggles of previous African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere, who dreamt of a unified Africa.
The AU chairperson candidate urged Africans to focus on their shared identity rather than their differences and should build on this shared identity and strengthen the African brand.
"Make no mistake. Africa may be poor and may have been colonised, but Africa is a very strong brand that can be made much stronger," he said.
Raila is competing for the job against Youssouf, Anil Gayan (Mauritius) and Richard Randriamandrato (Madagascar).
In July, Kenya formally submitted the ODM leader's bid for the African Union chairmanship.
The AUC chairperson's seat is set to fall vacant in February 2025 when its current occupant, Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, finishes his second term.