By Adonis Byemelwa
Raila
Odinga has officially filed his application for the African Union Commission
(AUC) Chairmanship, pledging to drive Africa's economic integration and
development.
The
veteran politician highlighted the pressing need for stronger continental unity
to meet the goals of Agenda 2063 and unlock the full potential of the African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Despite
the existence of several regional organizations, Odinga noted that Africa
remains the world's least integrated region. He pointed to the historical
legacies of colonialism that have influenced regional blocs like the Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC), the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Community of Sahelian
States (CENSAD), and the Arab Maghreb Union.
While
these blocs have promoted inter-African relations, Odinga acknowledged
persistent challenges including inadequate infrastructure, political
instability, and a lack of institutional support.
“Africa is still far from reaping the full
benefits of economic integration,” he asserted. “More effort is needed to
galvanize political will and accelerate this process.”
Odinga
emphasized two crucial areas for advancement: boosting intra-African trade and
creating a unified monetary system.
He drew comparisons to the European Union’s
economic and monetary integration success and called for the removal of tariff
and non-tariff barriers to enhance internal trade.
According to a World Bank study, full AfCFTA
implementation could increase intra-African trade by 52% or $450 billion by
2035, necessitating cohesive and effective policies at national, regional, and
continental levels.
He
also commended the efforts of Afreximbank and AfCFTA in developing the Pan
African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which aims to cut transaction
costs and support the creation of an African Monetary Union.
“PAPSS
facilitates instant cross-border payments in local currencies and reduces
reliance on hard currencies, thus supporting the use of African currencies in
trade,” Odinga noted.
Odinga
called on African nations to embrace supra-national authority and the long-term
advantages of integration, aligning with the pan-African ideals of
self-reliance, solidarity, development, peace, and unity.