Raila Odinga Concedes Defeat in AUC Elections

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has spoken after losing the election for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position.

On Saturday, February 15, Raila shared his thoughts on the outcome, saying he appreciated the support he received from his allies.

He mentioned that since the voting process was done through a secret ballot, it was impossible to know exactly who supported him, but he remained confident that many of his friends voted in his favor.

Despite his loss, Raila graciously accepted the results and congratulated the winner, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. He wished him success in his new leadership role and emphasized the importance of strengthening democracy across Africa.

He also expressed gratitude to all voters, regardless of their choice, for participating in the democratic process. Raila affirmed that he had no hard feelings and was instead happy with the experience.

Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Youssouf, emerged victorious in the election held during the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He will now serve a four-year term, succeeding Chad’s Moussa Faki, who has led the commission since 2017.

The election was highly competitive, extending to seven rounds of voting. Initially, Raila led the first two rounds with 20 and 22 votes, respectively. However, Youssouf gained momentum in later rounds, eventually securing the required 33 votes in the seventh round to claim victory.

Following the election, President William Ruto congratulated the newly elected AUC leadership. He also acknowledged Raila’s efforts and the opportunity he had to present his vision for Africa’s progress.

He also extended his congratulations to Mahmoud Youssouf and his deputy, Selma Haddadi, assuring them of Kenya’s support as they lead the AUC into the future.

The election marked a significant moment for African leadership, demonstrating the spirit of democracy and continental unity.