Ruto Presents Raila To African Leaders In Beijing With High-Calibre Meetings
On Wednesday, President William Ruto, who is in China for the high-level Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit, continued to woo other African leaders to support Kenya’s bid for the AUC chairmanship.
Kenya has nominated Raila Odinga for the seat. The elections are scheduled for February 2023. Raila, who is accompanying Ruto on the trip, was present at the various meetings held in Beijing.
At the Beijing conference, President @WilliamsRuto and I seized the moment to engage with a dynamic array of African leaders.
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) September 4, 2024
We presented our bold plans for AU reforms and my candidacy for AUC chairman. pic.twitter.com/P0Gzwm68HC
Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary, was also present. So far, they have met with six heads of state.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei and former Kenyan Ambassador to America Elkana Odembo, who are leading Raila’s campaigns, have insisted that the government will go to any length to ensure his success.
Sing’oei had stated that Raila, as Kenya’s candidate, would have the opportunity to present his vision for the African continent to the African heads of state gathered in Beijing for the three-day China Africa summit.
Kenya values its close ties with Guinea-Bissau that are founded on shared values. We are exploiting the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement to enhance trade between our two countries for the benefit of our peoples.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 4, 2024
Met President @USEmbalo of Guinea-Bissau in Beijing,… pic.twitter.com/sUPavakw1V
“Candidate Odinga will be in Beijing. China is an important infrastructure partner of Africa,” Sing’oei said.
“Odinga will meet various leaders to share his infrastructure focus for Africa within the context of the Belt and Road initiative, a major plank of the forum for China-Africa cooperation.”
Raila’s campaign secretariat, led by Sing’oei and Odembo, is developing a multifaceted strategy to advance Raila’s candidacy.
The strategy includes arranging for Odinga to meet with heads of state on the sidelines of major international forums.
The forum in Beijing is regarded as a critical forum that will allow Raila to hold bilateral meetings with African presidents as he seeks their support ahead of the 2025 continental election.
Pan-Africanism is an ideal platform to harness unity within the continent and the Diaspora. It will enable countries and organisations with a common agenda to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the African Union Agenda 2063 and the reforms of the United Nations.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 4, 2024
Held… pic.twitter.com/uPIK2SfOiQ
Raila is expected to hit the ground running in the coming days, making a whirlwind tour of African capitals to meet with presidents and seek their support for the top continental job.
Raila’s marathon campaigns will take him across the continent for the next five months, culminating in elections in February of next year.
Ruto Presents Raila To African Leaders In Beijing With High-Calibre Meetings
