By Veronicah Stellah
Raila, Mudavadi Seek EAC Ministers’ Support for AUC Position
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga made his case for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship on Sunday at the East African Community (EAC) Ministerial Retreat on Peace and Security in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania. Odinga outlined his vision to the EAC Ministers, emphasizing his extensive experience and commitment to transforming the AU.
“I am Africa, and based on my experience over the years, I have the ability to go to this institution and transform it,” said Raila. He stressed the importance of regional integration as a foundation for continental unity and expressed his readiness to elevate the AU’s impact.
Odinga highlighted his top priority: promoting peace and security initiatives across the continent. “There can be no development without peace. The AU has a Peace Fund, but it has not been properly developed. We need to expand that fund so that Africans can address conflicts themselves,” he stated.
He also pledged to revive the AU’s goal of silencing the guns by 2020, a resolution that has yet to be fully realized. “We still have a lot of guns around. We should see how we can use the peace fund to help bring peace across the continent. That is one of the things I intend to promote,” Odinga affirmed.
Addressing the continent’s vast resources, Odinga lamented the paradox of Africa’s wealth juxtaposed with its poor living conditions. “Africa is the richest continent on planet Earth in terms of resources. The paradox is that the richest in resources is also the poorest in living conditions. We can make a paradigm shift and transform Africa into one of the most developed continents,” he said.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi introduced Odinga to the summit, advocating for his AUC candidacy. “I urge fellow EAC ministers to support this visionary and transformative leader, to champion Africa’s integration, growth, and prosperity,” said Mudavadi. He reiterated President William Ruto’s support for Odinga, highlighting the unity and collaboration necessary to advance Africa’s global agenda.
Mudavadi thanked the retreat organizers for allowing Odinga to address the summit and appealed for favorable consideration of his candidacy. “Please, give his (Raila Odinga’s) candidature a favorable consideration based on the issues he has highlighted,” he urged.
The EAC Ministerial Retreat brings together Ministers of Foreign and EAC Affairs from Partner States to discuss critical issues affecting the region.
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