Museveni, Raila Odinga Discuss African Union Commission Candidacy

President Museveni has met and held talks with Azimio la Umoja Coalition leader, Raila Odinga, who is seeking the chairmanship of the Africa Union Commission (AUC).

Raila and Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, were among the leaders who bid farewell to President Museveni who has been in Kenya for a three-day state visit.

During the visit, the President held fruitful meetings with His Excellency, William Samoei Ruto, the President of the Republic of Kenya as they discussed matters of mutual interest and explored opportunities for cooperation.

The two leaders also engaged in bilateral talks with government officials from their respective governments.

The discussions in general aimed to further enhance collaboration in various sectors, including transport and Infrastructure, trade and investment, immigration, regional integration, peace and security, and the fight against terrorism.

Museveni, Raila hold talks

At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-Nairobi, President Museveni was seen off by Raila and other senior Kenyan government officials.

“While in Kenya, I met Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and enjoyed a discussion about the East African Community and his candidacy for the African Union Commission,” Museveni later wrote on his X platform.

On his part, Raila wrote: “I held discussions with and saw off H.E President Yoweri Museveni who has been on a state visit to Kenya.”

He added: “We revisited our dream of a united East African Community. I thank him for the continued support of my African Union Commission candidature.”

While some EAC member states are behind Raila’s dream, Somalia which became a full member of the EAC in March 2024, has fronted its former foreign minister, Fawzia Yusuf Adam, for the same job.

Seychelles announced support for its former Vice President, Vincent Meriton, who is promising to “significantly improve the implementation rate of the Commission’s executive decisions by addressing barriers to implementation and promoting accountability and compliance”.

Djibouti also threw in its Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, in a bid to succeed the current AU chair Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Faki has held the position of AUC chair since 2017 and will exit the commission by February 2025.