Nairobi is set to welcome several Heads of State today for a pivotal high-level retreat focusing on institutional reforms within the African Union (AU). President William Ruto will lead this crucial meeting aimed at discussing strategies for enhancing the AU’s functionality.
Among the dignitaries expected to arrive are Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske, Comoros’ Azali Assoumani, Ghana’s John Dramani, Togo’s Faure Gnassingbe, and Angola’s Joao Lourenco. The outgoing chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, will also participate in the retreat. Guinea Bissau’s President Umaro Sissaco Embalo has already touched down in Kenya, arriving on Saturday.
The agenda for the retreat includes significant discussions surrounding the support for Kenya’s bid for the AUC chairperson position. President Ruto is anticipated to engage with his counterparts on various topics, emphasizing the need for a unified approach to AU reforms.
In a notable development, President Embalo has publicly endorsed Raila Odinga as Kenya’s candidate for the AUC chairmanship. Odinga will be vying for the position against Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato and Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
Raila Odinga’s campaign has gained traction, bolstered by endorsements from several leaders, including Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. As the race intensifies, President Ruto aims to utilize the meetings to secure additional backing for Odinga’s candidacy, reinforcing Kenya’s influence in the African Union.
In addition to the chairperson bid, President Ruto is advocating for key reforms, including the elevation of the African Court of Human Rights to the Africa Court of Justice, which would provide member states with a legal platform for dispute resolution. Furthermore, discussions are expected to touch upon enhancing the independence of the Pan African Parliament, where countries would nominate two representatives—one male and one female—to oversee AUC activities and participate in budget deliberations.
As these crucial discussions unfold, all eyes will be on Nairobi, where the future of the African Union’s institutional structure may very well be shaped.
