DP Ruto in Chad to lobby for CS Amina’s bid for AU chair

Deputy President William Ruto is in Chad to continue the Kenyan government shuttle diplomacy efforts aimed at seeking support from other countries for Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed’s bid to become the next Africa Union Commission Chairperson.
The DP was received by Chadian Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke’ at N’djamena’s Hassan Djamous International Airport on Sunday evening.
He is scheduled to hold talks with President Idriss Deby Itno, who is the current chairman of the African Union.
 
Chad has already nominated Moussa Faki Mahamat, their long serving Minister for Foreign Affairs as a candidate for the position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in the upcoming AUC elections scheduled for January 2017.
It is expected Ruto will use the visit to strike a compromise with Chad on the candidacy of both foreign ministers.
Ruto is accompanied by Amb. Amina Mohammed during the trip that will also see the deputy president visit Ivory Coast and Egypt on a similar mission as he criss-crosses West and North Africa.
Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta formally launched to become the next African Union chairperson at a gathering of African diplomats at a colourful ceremony in State House, Nairobi.
CS Mohammed’s candidacy received a major boost last month as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) members endorsed her bid.