President William Ruto has intensified diplomatic engagements ahead of the African Union Commission (AUC) elections, scheduled for February 15, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Kenyan leader has met several African heads of state on the sidelines of the 38th Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU), seeking to strengthen alliances and rally support for Kenya’s candidate, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Odinga is among the top contenders for the AUC chairmanship, facing stiff competition from Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato. The AUC chairperson is elected by member states, with a candidate required to secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. This time, the Eastern African region is eligible to present a candidate, while the Northern region will provide a deputy chairperson.
Ruto held discussions with several leaders, including Presidents Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Equatorial Guinea), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), João Lourenço (Angola), Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. These engagements underscore Kenya’s efforts to forge regional partnerships ahead of the crucial vote.
During his meeting with Senegal’s President Faye, Ruto emphasized Kenya’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with Senegal at both bilateral and multilateral levels. “We are exploring new avenues of cooperation to enhance mutual growth and interests. Together, we are committed to advancing reforms of the African Union to establish a stable, financially sustainable, and predictable framework that will drive Africa’s progress,” Ruto stated.
In talks with Equatorial Guinea’s President Mbasogo, Ruto reaffirmed the strong bilateral ties between the two nations. He emphasized that Kenya and Equatorial Guinea remain committed to fostering economic cooperation and shared prosperity. “Our two nations remain steadfast in our commitment to strong diplomatic and economic cooperation, fostering shared prosperity and advancing the mutual interests of our people,” he noted.
With Angola’s President Lourenço, discussions centered on trade, investment, and regional security. Ruto highlighted the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in boosting economic integration. “We are also collaborating on regional peace and security through our two regional blocs — the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC),” Ruto stated.
As the AUC elections approach, Ruto’s diplomatic efforts signal Kenya’s determination to secure the chairmanship, with Odinga as its preferred candidate. The outcome will shape the AU’s leadership and future policy direction.
