Kagame endorses Raila for AU top job

Speaking to NTV, Kagame acknowledged that Odinga exhibited a stellar performance record as the AU High Representative for Infrastructure Development and is well qualified for the chairperson position.

"I respect Raila Odinga I respect his struggles he did a good job of that, [and had] full grasp of it. We will give him our support and wish him well,” Kagame said.

“And not only the support to be there but even when he is there, we’ll give him support for Africa to succeed.”

The endorsement came after Odinga visited Rwanda on March 8, 2024, where he had a tete-a-tete with President Kagame on regional and Pan-African matters.

Kagame now becomes the 7th Head of State to endorse Odinga's bid after Kenya's President William Ruto and Kaguta Museveni (Uganda) who have already assured Odinga of their votes.

Other leaders, according to Odinga as he said during a past address include "Mama Suluhu has said she will support me, Salva Kiir has accepted. The other day I was with Ramaphosa, he said yes, Tshisekedi has said yes.”

Odinga seeks to replace the current seat's holder Moussa Faki of Chad who will be finishing his two-term tenure by next year.

Faki was first appointed in 2017 and won a second term in 2021.