African Union Commission Campaign: Former Kenyan PM Visits Mauritius

Raila Amolo Odinga, the former Prime Minister of Kenya and candidate for the presidency of the African Union Commission, is currently on a campaign tour in Mauritius. His visit is aimed to garner support from member states of the African Union.

Odinga met with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who recently announced his endorsement of the Kenyan candidate after a conversation with President William Ruto.

This decision involved withdrawing Mauritius’s support for Anil Gayan, the candidate who had been designated under the previous government led by Pravind Jugnauth.

Following their meeting, Prime Minister Ramgoolam expressed his enthusiastic support for Odinga, emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties between Mauritius and the African continent.

He commended Odinga’s vast experience, noting that it uniquely qualifies him to promote African interests effectively.

In response, Raila Odinga described his discussion with the Prime Minister as cordial and noted that this is his third visit to Mauritius.

As a candidate for the AU Commission presidency, he conveyed his commitment to securing support from member states.

Odinga assured that, if elected, he would diligently work to implement reforms and uphold the vision of the African Union’s founders, ensuring that the organization meets its original goals of unity and progress for Africa.

Odinga also addressed the pressing challenges facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS), highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and destructive storms that erode coastlines and damage infrastructure.

He stressed the necessity for African nations to present a united front to enhance their influence on global platforms.

He pointed out that Africa contributes less than 5% of global carbon emissions but suffers disproportionately from climate-related issues, reiterating that the continent is a victim rather than a contributor to the climate crisis.

The elections for the African Union Commission members will take place during the upcoming 38th African Union Summit in February, which will fill eight leadership positions, including the president, vice-president, and six commissioners.

Source: Le Mauricien