Kenya's African Union Commission chairmanship candidate Raila Odinga has expressed excitement and readiness ahead of the highly anticipated African Union Leadership debate dubbed Mjadala Afrika.
The two-hour debate bringing together the three contenders for the AUC chairperson will run from 7pm to 9am.
In a statement, Raila highlighted the significance of the event and invited Africans to join him in reflecting on the continent's journey from 1963 to the present day.
He said he will use the debate to articulate his vision for the continent’s next four decades as envisaged in the AU Agenda 2063.
“Let us delve into our challenges and propose an actionable plan for Mother Africa,” he wrote on his X feed.
Raila said he intends to delve into Africa's challenges, offering actionable plans for economic development, governance, and unity.
“This is Africa’s century. I am grateful for being part of this defining moment. As Africans, we have ages old tradition of putting our heads together in the evening to reminisce on the day that is ending, and anticipate the next one,” he stated.
As the clock ticks, all eyes will be on Raila as he shares his vision for a united, and prosperous Africa.
Raila will be debating Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.
“Candidate RAO is preparing and we are confident that Africa will see that he really does stand head and shoulders over the competitors,” head of Raila’s campaigns Elkanah Odembo said.
The engagement to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be televised in all the six official working languages of the AU – English, French, Arabic, Portugues, Spanish and Swahili.
“The debate will be conducted by the two moderators who will address questions to the candidates in French and English,” a communication from AU says.
Moderators will then collate questions from the public and relay the same to the candidates.
DSTV Africa will avail two pop-up channels specific for the debate, and the same will also be available on the national channels of respective countries.
In his manifesto that has been translated into the six official Africa languages, Raila pledged massive infrastructural transformation, enhancing intra-African trade as well as financial independence.
The former AU High Commission for Infrastructure Development also promised gender equity and equality as well as agricultural transformation.
If elected in the February election, Raila promised to harness youth potential, continental integration, digital transformation, climate change and regional peace and security.
The first Mjadala was held in 2016 where five candidates debated each other.
