Raila Odinga’s Ambitious Dream For Navigable River Nile As He Eyes AU Chair Position

Raila Odinga’s Ambitious Dream For Navigable River Nile As He Eyes AU Chair Position

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced on Tuesday his desire to connect Africa through a robust infrastructure network.

Raila, who is vying for the role of chairperson of the African Union Commission, was speaking during a meeting with Mahi Boumediene, Algeria’s ambassador to Kenya. 

He claimed that one method to accomplish this would be to make the Nile navigable from Uganda to the Mediterranean Sea. 

As Chairperson of the AUC, Raila will have broad executive authority and a say in how the Union spends its infrastructure money.

Raila is also familiar with Africa’s transportation difficulties, having served as the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development from 2018-2022.

The Nile, one of the world’s longest rivers, is not completely navigable because to protruding crystalline rocks that generate massive cascades. 

Boats can go between the cataracts, and Raila hopes to make the entire 6,650-kilometre line navigable. 

Raila argued that Algeria and Kenya had the same violent struggle for independence and Pan-African goals, as well as similar thoughts about how to make the continent great. 

He went on to say that, while Kenya and other African countries may celebrate the end of colonialism, there was a need for something real to demonstrate the benefits of freedom. 

“We agreed on the need to leave Africa’s painful past behind and move the continent forward through trade and transformative infrastructure including Transcontinental railways, TransAfrica highways, African open skies, and making River Nile navigable from the Mediterranean Sea,” Raila stated. 

The former prime minister did not say whether Algeria had shown a desire to vote for him in the February 2025 polls, but the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said he had been invited to Nigeria.

“Raila and Boumediene discussed the future of the continent and how to make it greater. Ambassador Boumediene Mahi extended an invitation to  Odinga to visit Algeria,” ODM noted in a statement.

Raila has already received backing from East African Community (EAC) countries, as well as Ghana, Angola, and Guinea Bissau. 

Raila Odinga’s Ambitious Dream For Navigable River Nile As He Eyes AU Chair Position