Raila Odinga’s campaign for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship is intensifying as he participates in the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, China. Odinga is accompanied by Kenyan President William Ruto, and both are engaging with over 30 African heads of state and 40 ministers of foreign affairs attending the summit.

The purpose of Odinga’s presence in China is to build partnerships and gain support for his bid to become the next AUC chairperson. The summit provides him an opportunity to meet with various African leaders on the sidelines and discuss his vision for the continent. His campaign highlights several priority areas, including economic transformation, intra-African trade, agricultural development, climate action, gender equality, and peace and security.

Odinga is expected to run against other candidates, such as Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s former Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato. The election for the AUC chair will take place in early 2025, requiring a two-thirds majority vote from the 55 member states of the African Union.

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