Mahamoud Youssouf, the candidate for the chairperson position of the African Union Commission from Djibouti, has met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu.
Photos released by credible sources indicate that Samia and Mahamoud were seen conversing in Tanzania's capital city, Dar es Salaam.
Mahamoud also took to his official social media platforms to confirm his ongoing involvement in the contest, advising his followers to remain focused and not be misled by false information.
"Rest assured, dear friends and supporters, I am still in the race and doing well so far. Don't worry about false information; it's a minor attempt by my opponents to take my supporters' attention away and confuse them," his statement said.
This is occurring as several Kenyans have taken to social media, claiming that Mahamoud has opted to step down from the AUC contest in favor of his competitor, Raila Odinga.
The assertions were further intensified when Jubilee Secretary General Kioni took to social media to congratulate Raila, greatly implying that the former prime minister would indeed secure the AUC seat.
You have asked about the meeting between Mahamoud Youssouf and Suluhu.
These allegations were refuted when Moussa Mohammed Omar, Djibouti's Ministry of Foreign Affairs public relations chief, responded to the reports, stating that Mahamoud was travelling to Dar es Salaam for a meeting with Tanzania's President.
According to Moussa, the strategic meeting between President Suluhu and Djibouti's candidate was intended to capitalize on the campaign's positive momentum.
Tonight, we arrived in Dar es Salaam, accompanied by Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Ambassador Abdi Haibe. Tomorrow, we will hold a strategic meeting with President Samia Suluhu Hassan to build on the momentum of our campaign making great progress.
This development underscores that Mahamoud remains firmly entrenched in the AUC race and refuses to drop out now that his campaigns on the African continent are gaining momentum.
More to follow...