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In a formal move, Somalia has officially launched its campaign to endorse Fawzia Yusuf Adam, former Foreign Affairs minister, as the next Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). This development poses a direct challenge to Kenya’s former Prime Minister Hon. Raila Odinga.
Speculation had surrounded Ms Adam’s potential candidacy since January 2024, and the announcement comes with the full support of Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government.
Ms Adam expressed her commitment to amplifying African voices and advancing the continent’s agenda, emphasizing her passion for Africa’s development.
Her seven-point vision for the AU Chair includes a focus on pan-African unity, sustainable development, peace and security, youth empowerment, gender equality, climate change, and good governance.
Somalia’s government spokesperson, Daud Aweis, highlighted key diplomatic achievements, such as lifting the arms embargo, debt relief, and joining the East African Community (EAC), positioning Somalia to play a significant global role.
Ms Fawzia Adam’s extensive diplomatic background, serving in missions in Moscow, Washington DC, Berlin, and Paris for both the Somali government and the UN, adds weight to her candidacy.
As Somalia seeks to enhance its international standing, the nomination reflects a strategic move on the diplomatic stage.
Prior to her role as the Foreign Affairs minister from 2012 to 2014, Ms. Adam had a background as a diplomat and subsequently transitioned into activism.
