The President of Gambia, Adama Barrow has said that his country is fully behind former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid to become the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairman.
President Barrow made the announcement on Thursday at State House, Nairobi where he was hosted by President William Ruto.
“I wish to announce that Gambia will support the candidature of our brother Raila Odinga,” he said.
The Gambian President was the chief guest at the Jamhuri Day Celebrations held at Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum in Lang’ata, Nairobi County.
His endorsement comes as a big boost to Raila’s campaign to lead the continental body.
Raila is battling for the AUC chairmanship alongside Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.
The three are expected to face off in a live debate that will be televised across the continent on Friday night.
The Africa Leadership Debate or Mjadala Afrika Leadership debate will start from 7pm to 9pm East Africa Time.
The debate provides candidates an opportunity to outline their vision of how they would lead the transformation of Africa.
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.
The former Prime Minister will be unpacking his manifesto during the two-hour debate.
“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.
In his manifesto, Raila had 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 promises to harness youth potential, continental integration, digital transformation, climate change and regional peace and security.
