Deputy President William Ruto when he met President Deby at the Presidential Palace in Chad/DPPS
N’DJAMENA, Chad, Nov 8 — Kenya on Tuesday sought the support of President Idriss Deby of Chad for the candidature of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohammed as the chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Speaking in N’djamena, where he presented a special message from President Uhuru Kenyatta to President Idriss Deby, Deputy President William Ruto expressed confidence that President Deby will use his wisdom and judgement in deciding what is best for Africa.
He said Kenya believes that Ambassador Amina has what it takes in terms of experience and knowledge to drive the African agenda forward. “Ambassador Amina sits in the Executive Council of Africa Agenda 2063 and understands where we want to take Africa.”
Ruto pointed out that Kenya was well aware that Chad has nominated her long serving Foreign Affairs Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat for the same position of chairperson of the African Union Commission but hastened to add that Kenya believed President Deby has two candidates Moussa and Amina and will have one of them elected in January 2017.
“President Deby has had discussions with President Kenyatta over this matter and we hope that one of the two candidates will be elected the chairperson of African Union Commission in January,” he said.
President Deby acknowledged that he had two candidates saying they both had the experience and knowledge to steer the Affairs of the African Union Commission forward.
President Deby emphasised that whoever will be elected should push for reforms that Africans desire within the United Nations and avoid taking instructions from outside the continent. “We do not want someone who will take instructions from outside Africa. Whoever will be elected must drive the African agenda and push for reforms within the United Nations.”
Deputy President Ruto vouched for the integration of the African countries saying Africans should fast track the process to create a huge market that can compete favourably with other international markets in trade and investment.
He also paid glowing tribute to the outgoing chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma of South Africa for her sterling performance during her term.
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