Former Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam has thrown her support behind former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission Chairperson position.
This comes after Fawzia, who previously served as Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, withdrew her own candidacy for the seat.
In a statement she posted on her social media, Fawzia expressed her optimism for Odinga’s success in the upcoming election, scheduled for February 2025.
She wrote, “I am delighted to announce my support for the Right Honourable Raila Odinga in his bid for Chair of the African Union Commission. I extend my heartfelt wishes for his success in this important endeavour.”
Fawzia also took the opportunity to thank her supporters who had backed her earlier bid for the position.
“Additionally, I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the governments and individuals who supported my candidacy earlier,” she noted.
The race for the AU Commission Chairperson seat has been heating up, with both Somalia and Seychelles withdrawing their candidatures before the submission deadline this week.
According to reports, Odinga will be competing against candidates from Djibouti, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
The outgoing Chairperson, Moussa Faki from Chad, is set to complete his term february 2025 paving the way for a new leader to take the helm of the African Union’s top administrative position.
