ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
Kenya on Monday formally submitted Raila Odinga's application for the top job at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The application was lodged by
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Singo'ei to the Office of the Legal
Counsel of the African Union through the Dean of Eastern Region Dharmraj
Busgeeth, who is also the Ambassador of Mauritius.
"Under the authority of
the Government of Kenya and as per the Statutes and Rules of the African Union
Commission, we have today formally submitted requisite documentation of Kenya's
nominee for the Chairmanship of African Union, H.E. Raila Amolo Odinga,"
Dr Singo'ei said in a statement.
“This decision is informed by
Mr Odinga's Pan-Africanist credentials, his suitability, his vast networks
across Africa and his proven competence to lead AUC Africa's premier
continental organisation.”
In his application, Mr Odinga
has outlined his vision for the AUC which is hinged in various focal areas —
including African integration and infrastructure development, economic
transformation of the continent, enhancing intra-African trade, financial independence
and gender equity and equality.
Other areas of focus in his
grand plan are agricultural transformation, climate action, peace and security
and youth empowerment.
“Mr Odinga's key focus and
commitment is to harness Africa's rich and vast human and natural resources to
propel Africa towards a new era of shared prosperity. He envisions an African
Union Commission that can deliver on the priorities of the African peoples both
by catalyzing delivery on our continent and by commanding the global influence
it rightfully warrants,” Dr Singo'ei said.
Among documents delivered in
Addis on Monday was Mr Odinga’s curriculum vitae(CV), which the Office of the
Legal Counsel in May said should be submitted in six languages— English,
Arabic, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Kiswahili.
The submission of Mr Odinga’s
bid clears the air on President Ruto’s and the government's commitment to the
candidature of the opposition leader after failing to beat a self-imposed June
30 deadline.
The African Union Commission
has set August 6, 2024 as the deadline for the submission of applications by
candidates interested in succeeding the current chairman Moussa Faki.
Present during the submission
of the bid were Kenya's Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union George
Orina, and key members of Mr Odinga’s secretariat for the bid, Professor Makau
Mutua and Ambassador Elkanah Odembo.
Based on the principle of
inter-regional rotation, it is the turn of the Eastern region to submit
candidates for the role of AUC chairperson, while the deputy will be contested
by the northern African region.
Besides Mr Odinga, other
aspirants are Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Somalia's
former Foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam, and former Seychellois Vice
President Vincent Meriton.
“It is fact that Africa is
endowed with vast human and natural resources that have yet to be fully
harnessed for the benefit of its people. That is why the AU needs a catalytic
and visionary leader to unlock this potential. The remarkable life and exemplary
career experiences of the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga make him a perfect fit to sit
at the helm of the AUC to drive Africa's transformation and Agenda 2063,” Dr
Singo'ei said.
“Mr Odinga is an exceptional
African. He embodies high ethical standards and unparalleled integrity and
well-honed diplomatic skills. He is an ardent champion of African unity,
intra-African trade and integration, and infrastructural connectivity. These qualities
were in full display when he served as High Representative of the AUC
Chairperson on Infrastructure.”
His sentiments follow Kenya
government’s promise to pull out all stops to ensure Mr Odinga secures the
highly coveted continental seat that would catapult him to the stature of a
head of state.
“(Odinga’s) leadership is
visionary, transformational, action-oriented, and shall accelerate the
implementation of the aspirations, goals, and flagship programs of Agenda
2063.”
Depending on whether a male or
female candidate wins the chairperson seat, the deputy will then come from the
opposite gender.
According to an election
notice publicised in May, the shortlist will be created after a lengthy
procedure that will also see them vetted by a panel of experts before the polls
in February 2025.
The panel includes Burundian
academic Prof Paul Ngarambe, representing the Central Region, Ethiopia’s former
Permanent Representative to the African Union Konjit SineGiorgis for the
Eastern Region, Patrick Hayford, a retired Ghanaian diplomat for the Western
region, and South African diplomat Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko for the
Southern region.
All the eight positions of the
Commission – chairperson, deputy and six commissioners— are up for grabs but
each region will be given slots based on a fair “principle of inter-regional
rotation.”
It means the six commissioners
will fall to the remaining regions of south, central and western.
Since 2017, the African Union
also requires that candidates, besides applying formally and being vetted by
the panel, must also debate live on television in an Africa Leadership Debate
known as MjadalaAfrika.
The AU says this allows
candidates to outline their vision of “how they will lead the transformation of
Africa through the implementation of the AU Mandate and Africa’s Agenda 2063.”
“The debate allows African
citizens and other stakeholders to put forward questions to the candidates on
issues they want addressed on how to propel the continent’s growth and ensure
Africa achieves its goals for integrated and sustainable development and
becoming a major player in the Global Arena.”
As is the norm, the
chairperson and deputy are elected by the Assembly of Heads of State while the
six commissioners are elected by the Executive Council, which is the body of
foreign ministers.
Both organs vote in secret
ballot. Members of the Commission serve for four years and can be reelected
once.
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