Raila steps up AUC campaigns, meets 12 presidents in 3 days

Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson post Raila Odinga has met with at least 12 African presidents as he intensifies his lobbying efforts.

On Tuesday, Raila attended the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he engaged with various leaders to rally support for his bid.

Raila revealed that he was invited to the summit by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Beyond the official engagements, Raila used the opportunity to strengthen ties and lobby key leaders for the AUC seat.

“On the sidelines of the African Heads of State Energy Summit, I had the chance to renew my networks,” Raila posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

“It was a pleasure catching up with the President of Mauritania and AU Chairperson, Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani.”

In addition to Ghazouani, Raila also interacted with Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Duma Gideon Boko (Botswana), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi) and Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (Djibouti).

Djibouti has fielded its Foreign Minister as a candidate for the AUC chairmanship, making him one of Raila’s main rivals in the race to succeed outgoing Chairperson Moussa Faki.

Raila also held discussions with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as he sought their backing for the position ahead of next month’s AUC election.

Accompanying President William Ruto to the summit, Raila leveraged the presence of several African Heads of State to strengthen his campaign.

Pictures from the event showed President Ruto personally introducing Raila to various African leaders and government officials, actively lobbying on his behalf.

On Wednesday, Raila accompanied President Ruto on a two-day state visit to Egypt, where he engaged with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to seek his endorsement.

Earlier, on Saturday, Raila had also met at least four other African Presidents who were in Nairobi for an AUC reforms retreat.

These included Azali Assoumani (Comoros), Umaro Sissoco Embaló (Guinea-Bissau), Taye Atske Selassie (Ethiopia) and John Dramani Mahama (Ghana).

Raila has sustained his diplomatic charm offensive to strengthen diplomatic ties, positioning himself as a leading contender for the top job at the African Union Commission.