“As Foreign Minister of a pivotal East Africa and Horn of Africa nation, she will hit the ground running on the most pressing peace and security issues on the continent: terrorism; civil wars; post-election conflict and stabilization,” those are the words of President Uhuru Kenyatta as he drummed up support for Amina Mohammed to be the next African Union Chairperson.
'Amina Mohammed Fits the bill for African Union Chairperson post', President Uhuru declares in Morocco.
President Uhuru, goes on a charm offensive as he drums up support for Amina Mohammed, for the African Union Chairperson post.
President Uhuru was speaking on the margins of the COP22, the global climate change summit held in the Mediterranean city of Marrakech, Morocco where he met over 35 heads of state.
Uhuru went on and declared Amina the most suitable candidate for the top African job, since as a former Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Amina had immense experience and was a steady guide for Africa as climate change agreements and actions are undertaken.
“Her experience in World Trade Organization negotiations and as chair of the recent WTO Ministerial Conference will allow her to build Africa’s voice in multilateral trade negotiations and agreements,” A statement from statehouse sent to news rooms read.
Among the candidates Amina is facing off with are, Agapito Mba Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea, Foreign Affairs Minister, Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, Professor Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal and Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi from Botswana who are also seeking the chairperson’s post.
African union chairperson elections will be held at the next AU Summit in January 2017 in Ethiopia where African heads of state will vote for their preferred candidate.
Kenya has gone on an overdrive to drum up support for Ms Mohammed, so far Special envoys of President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, have reached out directly to more than 35 countries in their quest to build a consensus around the candidature of Mohamed.
The East African community, Somalia, Algeria and Egypt have so far publicly announced that they will vote for Kenya’s candidate, Amina Mohammed.
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