Raila to face-off with two rival AUC’s candidates in trio live debate today evening
Kenyan candidate vying for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) post former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will today evening face-off with his two arch-rivals in a televised live debate dubbed ‘Mjadala Afrika’ which will be held today, December 13, 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia exactly at 7pm.
Raila will bring forth his agenda for the continent alongside Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti) and former Madagascr Foreign Affairs Minister Richard Randriamandrato.
Former Mauritius Foreign Affairs Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, withdrew early in the month.
The AU says Mjadala Afrika is a platform for candidates to address African citizens in a televised debate, which is broadcast live. The candidates will present their visions and ideas on implementation of AU’s Agenda 2063.
“The debate focuses on policy issues and a solutions-oriented engagement on how each candidate intends to advance realisation of the Aspirations and Goals of Agenda 2063, other AU projects with continental focus, and Common African Positions.” The AUC said.
Yesterday, Raila said he was in Addis Ababa preparing for the debate.
The AU is collaborating with the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation to televise the debate to 55 AU Member States via satellite links to broadcast it in any of the six working AU languages (English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kiswahili).
It will be moderated by Canadian-based Ghanian Anita Erskine Executive Director of Erskine Global Communications and Algerian journalist, Fatima Charef. An explainer on AU’s website states that the first Mjadala Afrika was held in 2017 for candidates vying for the AUC chairperson position, to address Africans in an environment that encourages dialogue and understanding the role and responsibilities.
The debate also allows Africans and other stakeholders to forward questions to the candidates on issues they want addressed to propel the continent’s growth.
The candidates will provide their curriculum vitae and vision statements outlining how they intend to address the most pressing issues facing the AU.
“The elections of the Members of the AUC is the process through which Member States of the AU vote to elect the senior leadership of the Commission. In the upcoming 2025 election cycle, elections will be held for positions of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and six Commissioners, with the Commissioners elected to lead specific thematic portfolios such as Peace and Security.” The AU explained.
Raila’s key agenda emphasises key areas such as Economic Transformation, increasing intra-African Trade, Infrastructure Development, Financial Independence for the African Union, Gender Equity and Equality. Others are Agricultural Transformation, Climate Action, Harnessing Youth Potential, Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence, Continental Integration, and Peace and Security across the continent.
