Nairobi, Feb. 29 -- Somalia has formally began lobbying for its ex-Foreign Affairs minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam to be the next African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson in what could bring a direct challenge to Kenya's Raila Odinga.

Since January, there had been speculation that Ms Adam, the first female Foreign Minister in Somalia and who served under the first term of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, will enter the race.

But it is only on Wednesday that her government began lobbying for votes. She told the Nation she is competing with the full blessings of her home government under President Mohamud and wants to "amplify African voices and advance African agenda".

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"I have a deep passion ...