RAILA ODINGA FACES INTENSE COMPETITION FOR AU CHAIR AS DJIBOUTI GAINS OIC BACKING
Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga is facing increasing rivalry for the chair of the African Union Commission.
More than four months before vote, diplomatic moves are getting fierce.
Raila won support for the East African Community Friday, but just two days later the Organization of Islamic Cooperation came out for Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssef.
The resolution had been passed by the OIC Foreign ministers who met in Cameroon, confirmed Djibouti’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama on X: “The resolution was made during the session from August 29 to August 30,” he said.
The OIC has no less than 27 African members who can contest his candidature.
Algeria, Egypt, Libya and Morocco-members of the OIC-have fielded candidates for deputy chairperson.
They could just as well have canvassed support for their candidates from other regions.
Raila is also backed by a number of OIC members such as Uganda,
Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau. Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Mali are currently suspended from the AU.
The other portfolios that will be contested include the African Development Bank President, Commonwealth Secretary-General and World Health Organization Chief, in addition to the AUC chairmanship position.
Raila will also face Anil Gayan of Mauritius and Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar.
According to Ahmed Hashi, a governance expert, “Raila is going to lose the election in Addis Ababa.”
A landslide victory for Djibouti’s candidate is expected, as he says. This was because of the influence the countries speaking French, English, and Portuguese have.
Hashi said, “French-speaking countries always vote for their own.” He added that the French, Sahel regions, and Central Africa could block Raila.
The lawyer, Ahmednasir Abdullahi, agreed, adding that a candidate from Djibouti should not be underestimated.
Moronge Obonyo, an international relations expert said, “Francophone states excel in diplomacy.”
A united Francophone vote presented a real threat, he warned, adding that he would also point at the voting patterns of Southern Africa. Southern Africa, which is largely Anglophone, abstained in the previous contest; this may affect Raila’s chances.
