On Saturday, March 23, the Federal Republic of Somalia, gave the clearest indication that it would not recall Fawzia Yusuf Adam from the African Union Commission Chairperson race.
This was after Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre appointed an 8-member team that will develop a formula and lobby for Fawzia to defeat Azimio Leader Raila Odinga who is eyeing the same position.
In that regard, the team is made of two special envoys and six organising committee members drawn from high-ranking government institutions.
“The Prime Minister saw the need to appoint a Special Envoy in charge of the Election Campaign for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, 2025-2028, which will be represented by MP Fawzia Yusuf X. Adam, in Somalia,” Barre explained why the nation was not backing down.
The two members who were appointed as special envoys were Daoud Aweys Jama (Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism) and Ismail Jimale Alasow.
“The two envoys are in charge of the relationship between the governments of the need for support while carrying out the duties assigned to the Election Campaign Committee for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission,” it was explained.
On the other hand, members of the ministerial committee to organise the election campaign of the AUC include Bihi Cige, Daoud Aweys Jama, Abdirisaq Omar Mohammed, Abdullahi Ahmed Jama, Abdisalan Abdi Ali, and Ali Mohamed Omar.
The Prime Minister announced that Somalia had seen the importance of participating in the race necessitating the appointments.
Additionally, Barre remarked that he had considered the importance of AUC and strengthening the role of the Government of Somalia in the national and regional organisations that are part of the African Union.
“The members of the above-mentioned Committee are instructed to speed up the assigned tasks as soon as possible and bring them to completion,” it was directed.
Hours after Somalia had announced their strategy, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi regretted that members of Kenya Kwanza and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) were likely to cost Raila Odinga the post.
“Please let us take this issue of the AUC chairmanship more seriously than we are taking it. It is in our national interest that is my plea to you,” he warned the politicians.
Raila's candidature has been supported by leaders from all political divides in the country.
