As tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to rise, allies of Raila Odinga have raised concerns that President William Ruto’s approach to the crisis could negatively impact Raila’s chances in the upcoming African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship election.
With only two weeks left before the crucial vote, some of Raila’s close allies have cautioned Ruto to tread carefully in handling diplomatic matters, warning that any miscalculation could cost Kenya key votes.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to advise Ruto against making geopolitical mistakes that could alienate crucial voting blocs.
“Dear Ruto, every vote matters in this AUC election. Please avoid interfering with the Congo situation in a way that could create diplomatic issues. If you strain Kenya’s relationship with Congo, you could lose support from countries like Burundi, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, and even Rwanda,” Amisi warned.
In response, the Kenyan government has sought to allay these fears, assuring that the country remains committed to fostering inclusive dialogue and maintaining strong diplomatic ties across the continent.
“Kenya’s stance on the DRC conflict is to promote an all-inclusive dialogue. How would this affect our candidate? Our role is to ensure that all parties involved come to the negotiating table,” said Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei.
However, despite these assurances, the peace efforts have not been smooth. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi skipped a meeting convened by President Ruto and instead chose to attend a Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Zimbabwe.
President Ruto, who is the current chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), had called for a meeting on January 29 with East African leaders to discuss the worsening security situation in the DRC. The meeting was attended by key regional leaders, including Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame. However, Tshisekedi was notably absent.
According to his spokesperson, the DRC President was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Meanwhile, political analysts believe Ruto has placed Kenya in a delicate diplomatic position, especially after engaging in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. This move has been seen as controversial because the DRC government has accused France of supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, a group blamed for escalating violence in the region.
Kenya formally submitted Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the AUC chairmanship in July 2024. Since then, the former Prime Minister has been actively touring different African countries, lobbying for support and strengthening his campaign ahead of the February 15 election.
With time running out, Raila’s supporters remain hopeful that Kenya will maintain strong diplomatic ties across Africa to ensure he secures enough votes to win the AUC leadership position.
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