Ugandan government has dismissed reports it did not back Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed, for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson post.
Amina lost to Chad’s Foreign Affairs Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat, despite an intense campaign across Africa by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto for her to succeed Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
In a press statement, Uganda’s foreign affairs ministry said the country’s support for Amina before and during the AU elections was “unequivocal”.
Uganda said Amina was endorsed as the East African Community candidate ahead of the polls, and described media reports that it abandoned Kenya as “baseless assertions”.
“Uganda wishes to reassure the government and the people of the sisterly country of Kenya in general; and Amb. Amina Mohamed in particular; that we remain a reliable ally and partner given our warm and close relations and our commitment to the East African Community,” read part of a statement by Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday evening.
Speaking for the first time since her loss, Amina said Kenya would have to probe allegations that the East African Community abandoned Kenya during the vote that saw Chad’s candidate win the seat during the seventh round of voting.