Ruto's West Africa charm offensive in latest push for Raila's AUC support

Nairobi is ramping up its diplomatic efforts to court the West African bloc, the largest in the African Union, after facing persistent challenges despite pledges to expand its presence in the region.

On Wednesday, President William Ruto met with leaders from Chad, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Togo to discuss bilateral and continental matters, particularly lobbying for Raila Odinga's candidacy for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position.

During his engagement with Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, Ruto emphasised the importance of Kenya's relationship with the Portuguese-speaking enclave, which is unique in a region dominated by Francophone countries.

"Kenya values its close ties with Guinea-Bissau that are founded on shared values," Ruto said in a statement on X.

"We are exploiting the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement to enhance trade between our two countries for the benefit of our peoples."

Presidents William Ruto, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe (Togo), Colonel Assimi Goita (Mali) and AUC Chairperson candidate Raila Odinga in Beijing, China (Photo: PCS)

He also noted, "also deliberated on the support of the candidature of the Rt Hon. Raila Odinga for the position of the African Union Commission chairperson."

Earlier this year, Ruto's diplomatic outreach in Bissau involved discussing bilateral issues and lobbying for Raila's candidacy.

Despite promises of scholarships for Guinean students as a soft power tool, it remains unclear if this initiative has been implemented.

The Kenyan president, who is actively championing AU institutional reforms, also held a joint meeting with Togo's President Faure Gnassingbé and Mali's interim leader, Assimi Goita, to discuss a Pan-African congress set to be held in Lomé, Togo, later this year. Ruto shared that they "also discussed support for Raila Odinga."

Kenya and Togo have maintained a cordial relationship, marked by diplomatic and economic engagements within multilateral institutions like the African Union and the United Nations.

However, there have been limited high-profile engagements compared to Kenya's relations with other West African countries.

Kenya does not have an embassy in Togo; its relations are covered by Nairobi's mission in Abuja, Nigeria, which is accredited to several West African countries, including the regional bloc ECOWAS.

President William Ruto, Chad's Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno and AUC Chairperson candidate Raila Odinga in Beijing, China (Photo: PCS)

Likewise, Togo's embassy in Addis Ababa, which also serves as its mission to the African Union, manages its relations with Kenya.

Ruto also held discussions with Assimi Goita, the leader of Mali's military junta—a country currently suspended from the African Union.

Goita, who has served as Mali's interim President since May 28, 2021, led the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, the military body that deposed former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in the 2020 Malian coup d'état.

Previous critic

Previously, Ruto criticised military takeovers and was vocal against the coup in Niger, which led to the expulsion of American forces.

In August last year, he condemned the military takeover in Niger as a "serious setback for Africa" during a televised address from Mombasa.

Despite this, Mali maintains strong ties with Niger and Burkina Faso, both of which are led by military regimes following coups.

Ruto also met with Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno to discuss Chad's role in resolving the conflict in Sudan, particularly concerning the influx of refugees.

"Kenya and Chad are exploring areas of cooperation to enhance our diplomatic relations in areas of mutual interest, including trade, regional security, and climate action," Ruto posted on X, adding that he also discussed support for Raila Odinga's candidature.

President William Ruto with Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema and AUC Chairperson Candidate Raila Odinga in Beijing, China (Photo: PCS)

Raila aims to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat, a Chadian, as the next AUC Chairperson in February next year.

Kenya currently maintains only two embassies in Anglophone West Africa—Ghana and Nigeria. Following former Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Amina Mohamed's loss to Chad's Moussa Faki in the 2017 AUC chairperson bid, Kenya pledged to open seven additional embassies in the region.

However, despite this commitment, progress has been slow.

Although Nairobi approved plans to establish seven new embassies, primarily in Francophone West African countries, only one has been opened in Senegal since 2019.

The region's lack of support for Amina Mohamed's bid underscored the need for greater diplomatic engagement.

Nairobi's recent decision to appoint its first ambassador to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and its commitment to opening an embassy there are seen as strategic moves to boost Kenya's influence in West Africa.

President William Ruto and Chad's Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno (Photo: PCS)

Dakar remains the only Francophone capital in the region where Nairobi maintains a diplomatic presence with an embassy.

Past administrations in Nairobi have largely overlooked West Africa, focusing instead on strengthening ties with Anglophone countries like Ghana and Nigeria.

However, under Ruto's leadership, there seems to be a renewed focus on engaging more deeply with Francophone West Africa as part of a broader strategy to secure critical support within the AU.