TOP AU Candidate Threatened To Step Down As Raila’s Campaign Gains Momentum
Somalia’s Fawzia Yusuf Adam expressed concern on Thursday about being pressured to withdraw from the race for Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
During a press briefing, Adam revealed that she had been pressured by two Djiboutian leaders, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
“The President and the Prime Minister from Djibouti asked me to give up,” she stated.
She revealed that she was summoned to a National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting with the two and other leaders, during which she claims she was told to stop running for the position.
Adam also stated that she was not given a reason to stop vying.
She insisted that the threats and intimidation would not deter her pursuit.
She will compete against Kenya’s Raila Odinga and two other candidates from across the continent.
“I am grateful to all the Somali people for supporting me. Victory in Somalia,” she added.
Her announcement elicited mixed reactions, with some locals encouraging her to stay strong and pursue her bid for the position.
Others, however, urged her to succumb to the pressure and give up, claiming that the Djibouti candidate was better qualified to serve as AU Chairperson.
Adam is one of two candidates vying for the prestigious AU chairmanship position. Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf are among the other candidates.
Raila’s bid has received support from the country’s leadership, including President William Ruto and other regional leaders.
If elected, the new chairperson will take on the roles of administrator and enforcer of the AU.
The chairperson will prepare the budget and represent the AU’s goals and interests in the global arena.
Furthermore, the chairperson is responsible for facilitating the functioning, decision-making, and reporting of all AU organ meetings, as well as ensuring conformity and harmony with agreed-upon AU policies, strategies, programmes, and projects.
The 38th AU Summit will select a new chairperson in February 2025.
TOP AU Candidate Threatened To Step Down As Raila’s Campaign Gains Momentum
