Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday, August 27 skipped Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission chairperson bid launch at State House Nairobi.
Speaking during the event President William Ruto said he had invited the Somalia President to attend the event and had confirmed attendance.
However, President Mohamud called President Ruto on Monday and informed him he would not attend the event due to issues beyond his control.
“I had sent an invitation to the President of Somalia and he had confirmed but yesterday he made a call to me that because of issues that went beyond his control he didn’t manage to come today but he sent his apologies,” President Ruto stated.
Raila’s AUC bid launch was attended by a number of African Presidents and former Presidents including Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), and the Prime Minister of Burundi Gervais Ndirakobuca.
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Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo also attended the event at State House.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was represented by his Foreign Affairs Minister, General James Kabarebe.
President Suluhu endorsed Raila’s AUC chairperson candidature saying Tanzania believes he is a Pan-African leader who believes in African integration.
Suluhu also expressed confidence that Raila has what it takes to transform the vision of AU into tangible outcomes.
“The united Republic of Tanzania assures the Republic of Kenya of its full support for the candidature Right Honorable Raila Odinga for the position of the African Union Commission chairperson and Tanzania said baba is suitable to be elected,” Suluhu stated.
