Raila Odinga in an interview with “Afro News 24”: My candidature for the presidency of the Commission comes at a critical moment in Africa’s history
The African Union Commission elections scheduled for next February are witnessing a heated electoral race to succeed Chadian Moussa Faki as head of the commission. At the top of the list of candidates is the veteran Kenyan politician, the former prime minister who relies on a long political history in defending the issues of the African continent and strong relations with a large number of leaders and heads of state of African countries. Despite this, the competition is not easy, especially in light of the great diplomatic experience possessed by his closest competitor, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
In an interview with “Afro News 24,” Raila Odinga describes his candidacy for the presidency of the African Union Commission as “coming at a critical moment in the history of Africa.”
The former Kenyan prime minister says in his interview, which is the first with an Arab media outlet following his candidacy for the major African position: “I strongly believe that with the unity of the continent, there will be no major challenges facing Africans. Without the unity and integration of the continent, Africa will remain marginalized, exploited and isolated.” The veteran Kenyan politician stressed that he is not relying on any linguistic group in his candidacy for the position, “I am relying on Africans and African leaders to elect me as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.”
The following is the text of the interview:
First and foremost, how do you see your nomination by Kenya for the position of AUC Chairperson?
I think my candidature comes at a critical moment in Africa’s history. As a continent, we are currently experiencing many challenges, including economic distress, environmental issues, conflicts, terrorism, and general social discord, exacerbated by geopolitical competition. But I think these challenges are surmountable. I believe my deep-rooted sense of African identity, my Afro-optimism, and commitment to Pan-Africanism put me in a good place to rally our continent into tackling these issues. I believe I have the experience and capacity to unite our people in order to confront our problems. Which is why I have repeatedly said I envision a united Africa, characterized by peace, prosperity, and whose progress is driven by its own people. I strongly believe that with unity, no challenge is too great for Africans. Without unity and integration of the continent, Africa will continue to be marginalized, exploited and irrelevant.
How do you really depict the relations between Kenya and African countries in the time being?
Kenya has been a very responsible, responsive and respectful member of the Africa family. We take our responsibility to Africa very seriously. That is why we have contributed troops for peace keeping missions in Africa. We have ratified every instrument the continent needs to move forward. We meet our financial obligations to continental organizations. We have participated in providing diplomatic resolutions to conflicts on the continent and even nurtured the birth of new nations. Kenya continues to play an anchor role at the regional, continental and multilateral levels in furtherance of Africa’s cause. We have provided refuge to millions of Africans rendered homeless by conflicts. Kenya is at the forefront of diplomacy at both bilateral and multilateral levels advocating for peace, mutual respect, dialogue and unity on the global stage. Kenya has championed African unity, economic integration, and peace and security throughout its existence as an independent state. On the global stage, Kenya has acted in unison with other African nations when the Continent’s interests have been on the table. We mean well for the continent and everyone knows it.
Some guys think that you are counting heavily on the support of English-speaking countries in your candidacy. How come?
No. I am not counting on any linguistic group. I am counting on Africans and African leaders to elect me as chairman of the African Union Commission. I believe that we were and we are Africans first, before we even get to what languages we speak. When our young people drown as they try to sneak across oceans into Europe, the world simply says tens or hundreds of Africans drowned in the ocean. Nobody asks whether they were speakers of English or French or Arabic. Nobody asks whether they were from Egypt or Kenya or Nigeria. Our problem is not the language we speak. The challenges respect no language. As a continent, we need policies and institutions that can take us forward and that I am hoping to institutionalize.
What are the most salient items of your electoral program?
I am keen on a united, integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa, in line with the Continent’s Agenda 2063. The first aim of the Constitutive Act of the AU and the Protocol on the Amendments of the Constitutive Act of the African Union is the achievement of greater unity and solidarity between African countries and their people as priority. This is followed by the desire to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of member states. Agenda 2063 is therefore at the heart of my bid.
what will be your urgent priorities if you are being elected to AUC?
I want to help the continent realize the goals of Agenda 2063 by focusing on ten core areas, namely;
- Continental unity and integration.
- Peace and Security,
- Economic transformation;
- Enhancing intra-African trade;
- Financial independence;
- Gender Equity and Equality;
- Agricultural transformation;
- Climate Action; and,
- Investment in technology including artificial intelligence;
- Harnessing youth potential.
There are reiterated discussions about the institutional reform process of the A U so that the Commission may be effective and can wield all possible tools to make it more interactive with the various stakeholders, and to establish a mechanism to monitor and evaluate the policies and programs of the A U. What is your vision for hitting this target and fulfilling it efficiently?
President Paul Kagame as head of the reform committee came up with a very elaborate, actionable report on necessary reforms at the AU. Luckily, President William Ruto of Kenya now heads that committee. I appreciate the work that has gone on towards the implementation of the reform recommendations. I will therefore not be starting from scratch. I intend to expedite the implementation of the Kagame report in its entirety, and, where members so feel, make further changes to the proposals. I assure the continent that working with our leaders, I will ensure the report does not gather dust but is fully and speedily implemented.
How do you see the efforts of the African Union in achieving Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want”?
I think there has been significant progress towards the realization of the goals of Agenda 2063. First, there is complete agreement that Africa needs to revise and adapt its development agenda due to ongoing structural transformations; increased peace and reduction in the number of conflicts; renewed economic growth and social progress; the need for people centered development, gender equality and youth empowerment; changing global contexts such as increased globalization and the ICT revolution. There is no dispute in this regard.
There is agreement on the key programmes and initiatives to accelerate Africa’s economic growth and development as well as promoting common identity by celebrating African history and vibrant culture. The projects encompass infrastructure, education, science, technology, arts and culture as well as initiatives to secure peace on the continent. At aspirational level, we are making good progress and I intend to continue the trajectory while hastening the pace of implementation of proposals. I am optimistic that Agenda 2063 will be realized.
The A U launches the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Initiative. How do you evaluate the Union’s efforts to push African countries to move forward in implementing this initiative. do you think there is a commitment from African countries to achieve gender equality?
Gender equality in Africa is work in progress but overall, we are making progress. Africa’s women are making significant strides across economic, social, and political representation areas. All reports monitoring this area indicate progress. Africa even has female heads of state, something even some of the most developed continents have been unable to attain. Africa’s women are taking over boards of blue-chip corporations. Many of our countries have enacted reforms that improve women’s access to opportunities like education, employment and finance. Many challenges remain, and I intend to make AU push vigorously the women’s agenda, but we are making progress.
As for peace and security file, it’s seen as a major priority within Africa, due to its significant impact on efforts to achieve development on the continent. how can the AU play a tangible role in this respect?
AU recognizes that without peace and security, Africa is doomed to stagnation and oblivion. That recognition is a good start. We must watch against the return of conflicts, civil wars and humanitarian crises. We must invest in prevention of these conflicts. We must not be caught again in proxy wars again and we must pay greater attention to the issues of poverty and poor economic performance which are at the heart of the conflicts in Africa. We must also be very pro-active on the issue of Climate Change that has serious environmental, economic and security implications. Progress was recorded in the attainment of Aspiration 4 “A peaceful and secure Africa” with an overall performance of 63% against the 2021 targets, although performance varied across parameters and countries. The most recent data received from Member States indicates a significant decline in the number of deaths emanating from armed conflict and from religious and ethnic disagreement and intolerance. We need to sustain this trajectory.
This brings us to the African Union’s efforts to finance the Peace Fund. How can the African private sector be really urged and prodded to finance this fund? And what are available incentives for them so as to respond?
The private sector needs peace and security to thrive. We will need very robust and regular engagements with players in this sector and get their perspectives on the issue of peace and security and how to finance it. A standout accomplishment was the recent Accra Platform, which secured a significant contribution, with major initial pledges from Afreximbank, Ethiopian Airlines, Standard Bank, and the AU Staff Association. But even here, there is already good progress. I must commend the Peace Fund Secretariat for its resource mobilization efforts that have roped in private sector entities, state-owned enterprises, multilateral financial institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and individual billionaires. I am aware that the secretariat has so far secured contributions and pledges from entities like Afreximbank, Ethiopian Airlines, Standard Bank, and the AU Staff Association. This is very commendable and we will help bring more players on board.
There is also interest in the file of post-conflict reconstruction in the continent, which is led by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. what’s your vision concerning this issue?
I must recognize and appreciate the fact that Africa’s leaders, led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have showed a renewed understanding that conflicts are holding us back and shown a renewed determination to address peace and security issues on the continent as a matter of priority. The president has done a commendable job in my view. We are seeing a very clear understanding by our leaders that we have to find ways to prevent conflicts or to resolve them immediately they happen. As chair of AUC, I would be very keen on supporting the work of the Peace and Security Council. I will be particularly keen on the work of the Panel of the Wise, a key pillar of the continent’s conflict resolution architecture that has proved time and again that indeed, Africa can still resolve its problems using the ages-old system of its old and wise men and women. As AUC chair, I would strongly push for more support for the Panel of Eminent African Personalities. That is a tool that is home grown, familiar to Africans and with Africa and therefore effective.
I would also pursue the strengthening of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS). I believe the AU must work very closely with think tanks and the continent’s thinkers to drive CEWS capacity for data collection and analysis to support the Peace and Security Council (PSC).
Many African countries suffer from widespread and burgeoning extremist as well as terrorist organizations. What role can African religious institutions really play in confronting depraved thought?
Our people have experienced unnecessary suffering in the hands of terrorist groups fighting all sorts of causes. I believe religious leaders have a role in helping stop these conflicts and there are mechanisms for supporting their contribution to peace and security. For sustainable prevention of such conflicts however, we must invest in creation of opportunities which will go a long way in denying extremists the bulk of desperate population who fall victim to the depraved agenda. Efforts must be made to address the issues of poverty and poor economic performance, the breeding grounds for terror groups. I submit, and hope you agree, that poverty and economic stagnation are at the heart of the conflicts in Africa. In the last two decades, most African countries achieved high economic growth but most citizens do not feel better off. Indeed, the number of people living in absolute poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has increased. We have to address this disconnect.
To which extent can Africa depend on education in that regard? given that education was the main topic of the last African Summit?
Education is critical and it features as a running theme throughout Agenda 2063. Whether you are talking about an Africa Virtual and E-University, Pan-African E-Network, Africa Outer Space Strategy, it is all about education for Africa’s progress. We must treat the minds of our young people as our fundamental resource. Our challenge as leaders is to ensure that the quality of education Africa’s children get in Africa is as good as if not superior to that offered in other parts of the world.
debt and financing file is one of a paramount importance which is considered as a high priority for African countries. How do you assess this file and how can the African Union play an effective role to lift the injustice incurred on the continent, especially with regard to the assessments of international financing organizations of the continent’s economies?
Debt and financing of Africa’s development programs are serious issues on the continent and that is why Agenda 2063 has establishment of Africa’s financial institutions as a priority as avenues for resource mobilization for continental growth. We are talking about African Investment Bank, Pan African Stock Exchange, African Monetary Fund and the African Central Bank.
Africa has to be at the fore front in pushing for a reliable, equitable, inclusive, transparent, fair and efficient global financial system. Even as we develop our financial institutions, we must force a discussion on two realities.
One is that the current global financial architecture has not been able to help African countries to finance their activities without the risking instability.
The second is the fact that many African countries in financial distress often borrow money from the global financial system, only to drift towards state bankruptcy.
There is recurrent and oft- repeated talk about the existence of international competition and conflict over areas of influence in the Africa as a whole, between the East and the West wings. what do you say in this regard? and are there some prospects to use that competition for the benefit of continent peoples?
Yes, we are witnessing a renewed interest in Africa by global players which is not necessarily a bad thing. But Africa has been here before, so we must march on, sad but wiser, given our past experience. Africa must find ways to navigate old and new geopolitical interests and ensure that they do not put the continent to disadvantage. We must always remember that currently, we have great economic advantages over the rest of the world. We are home to 40% of the world’s best untapped renewable energy potential. We have 40% of the world’s critical mineral deposits, and by 2100, Africans will represent 40% of the global workforce. And the list goes on and on: two-thirds of the world’s remaining unused arable land is in Africa, and our mineral deposits are some of the highest grades in the world. If we unite and bargain as a continent, and put the interests of our people first, this renewed interest in Africa will definitely work in our favour.
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