JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN — As the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson election looms in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s campaign continues to gain traction.
Leaders across the continent are increasingly vocal in their support for Odinga’s candidacy, advocating for his election to succeed the incumbent, Moussa Faki.
Adding his voice to the chorus of support, Ambassador Albino Aboug, a Member of Parliament from South Sudan and a prominent figure in the Pan-African Parliament, has endorsed Odinga’s bid.
Ambassador Aboug cited Odinga’s strong democratic credentials as a key factor in his decision to support the Kenyan statesman.
“Raila has a very good chance of becoming the next chair, looking into his background as a Pan-Africanist. The kind of freedom you’re enjoying today, somebody, somewhere, somehow has fought for it, and it wasn’t easy to have such freedom if nobody would have fought for it,” Aboug said.
Aboug stated that South Sudan’s support for Odinga’s candidacy stems from the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations.
He further expressed confidence that, under Odinga’s leadership, conflicts in the eastern region—particularly in Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—would be effectively addressed, given his positive relationships with regional leaders.
“(As) South Sudan, we have declared we will support Raila. Culturally, Kenya and South Sudan are brothers, and you don’t choose your neighbours. Today is an opportunity for Kenya; tomorrow, who knows, it could be an opportunity for South Sudan,” Aboug said.
Having previously served as a special envoy and participated in AU affairs, Aboug emphasized that Saturday’s election will not be determined by language or regional alliances.
Instead, he noted that the outcome will largely depend on how well the three candidates have persuaded the Heads of State and the shared interests among the member nations.
“It is about interests – what is Kenya offering for other countries and what is Djibouti offering for other nations? Likewise, what are the other countries offering to Kenyans? Every opportunity for Kenya is an opportunity for the region, an opportunity for the continent,” he stated.
Aboug, who attributes Africa’s problems to poor leadership, unemployment, exploitation of resources, conflicts, and tribalism, said the new leadership at the African Union Commission should focus on resolving these challenges head-on.
“If he wins, I will tell him as somebody who has been in the African Union, knowing a little bit, I will advise him to engage, especially with the youth of the continent,” he added.
He has called on Kenyans to support Odinga’s candidacy, highlighting that he has strong backing from Eastern and Southern African nations ahead of the elections.
