Chairperson of the African Union

Last updated
Chairperson of the
African Union
Flag of the African Union.svg
Hi Excellency Mohammed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of Mauritania, at the UK-Africa Investment Summit, 20 January 2020 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
since 17 February 2024
Style Excellency
AbbreviationCPAU
Appointer the Assembly
Term length One year
Constituting instrument Constitutive Act of the AU (article 6)
Precursor Chairperson of the OAU
Formation9 July 2002
First holder Thabo Mbeki
Deputy Bureau
Website au.int/en/cpau

The Chairperson of the African Union is the ceremonial head of the African Union (AU) elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for a one-year term. [1] It rotates among the continent's five regions.

Contents

A candidate must be selected by consensus or at least two-thirds majority vote by member states. The chairperson is expected to complete the term without interruption; hence countries with impending elections may be ineligible. [2]

The current Chairperson is Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Angola is seeking the post in 2025. [3]

History

In 2002, South African President Thabo Mbeki served as the inaugural chairman of the union. The post rotates annually amongst the five geographic regions of Africa; and over the years it has assumed the following order: East, North, Southern, Central and West Africa.

In January 2007, the assembly elected Ghanaian President John Kufuor over Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir due to the ongoing conflict in Darfur. [2] [4] Amnesty International said it would undermine African Union's credibility and Chad threatened to withdraw its membership. Western governments also lobbied against Sudan and suggested Tanzania as a compromise candidate from the East African region. By consensus, Ghana was elected instead as it was celebrating its 50th independence anniversary that year. [5]

Gaddafi holding the ceremonial baton after taking over as Chair from Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete. Jakaya Kikwete and Muammar al-Gaddafi, 12th AU Summit, 090202-N-0506A-678.jpg
Gaddafi holding the ceremonial baton after taking over as Chair from Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete.

In January 2010, Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi unsuccessfully tried to extend his tenure by an additional year, [6] saying more time was needed in order to implement his vision for a United States of Africa - of which he was a strong proponent. Libya was at the time one of the largest financial supporters of the AU. Malawi was chosen instead. [7]

The election of Equatoguinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in January 2011 was criticized by human rights activists as it undermined the AU's commitment to democracy. [8]

Congolese Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe have both led the AU and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity during the terms 1986–88 and 2006–07, and 1997–98 and 2015–16 respectively. [9] [10]

In 2023, both Kenya and Comoros were vying for the position. [11] Comorian President Azali Assoumani thanked Kenyan President William Ruto for his country's withdrawal. [12] In 2024, Both Algeria and Morocco were interested in the position in 2024. [13] Mauritania was elected instead.

Role

The incumbent chairs the biannual summit meetings of the assembly and represents the continent in various international fora such as G7, TICAD, FOCAC and G20 summits. [1]

They also assist in resolving crises on the continent as an elder statesman. It has been suggested that liaison offices be established to prevent friction between the incumbent and the Commission Chairperson at the headquarters in Addis Ababa. [14]

Elder Statesman

In 2008, following Kenya's post-election crisis, AU Chairman Jakaya Kikwete was instrumental in facilitating the opposing sides to agree to a Government of National Unity. [15] Kikwete also backed the invasion of Anjouan by sending an AU Force to assist the Comoros federal government to remove renegade leader Mohamed Bacar.

List of Chairpersons

No.PortraitNameTerm of officeCountryRegionRef.
Took officeLeft office
1 SthAfrica.ThaboMbeki.01 (cropped).jpg Thabo Mbeki 9 July 200210 July 2003Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Southern Africa [16]
2 Joaquim Chissano 2004-08-31.jpg Joaquim Chissano 10 July 200311 July 2004Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Southern Africa [17]
3 Olusegun Obasanjo 1-2.jpg Olusegun Obasanjo 11 July 200424 January 2006Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria West Africa [18]
4 Denis Sassou Nguesso 2014.png Denis Sassou Nguesso 24 January 200624 January 2007Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of Congo Central Africa [19]
5 John Kufuor 1-1.jpg John Kufuor 30 January 200731 January 2008Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana West Africa [2]
6 Jakaya Kikwete 2011 crop.jpg Jakaya Kikwete 31 January 20082 February 2009Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania East Africa [20]
7 Muammar al-Gaddafi-30112006.jpg Muammar Gaddafi 2 February 200931 January 2010Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg Libya North Africa [21]
8 Bingu wa Mutharika 2009-09-23.jpg Bingu wa Mutharika 31 January 201031 January 2011Flag of Malawi (2010-2012).svg  Malawi Southern Africa [22]
9 Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the White House in 2014.jpg Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo 31 January 201129 January 2012Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea Central Africa [23]
10 Yayi Boni.jpg Yayi Boni 29 January 201227 January 2013Flag of Benin.svg  Benin West Africa [24]
11 Hailemariam Desalegn 2014.jpg Hailemariam Desalegn 27 January 201330 January 2014Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia East Africa [25]
12 Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz August 2014 (cropped).jpg Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz 30 January 201430 January 2015Flag of Mauritania (1959-2017).svg  Mauritania North Africa [26]
13 Robert Mugabe May 2015 (cropped).jpg Robert Mugabe 30 January 201530 January 2016Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Southern Africa [27]
14 Idriss Deby at the White House in 2014.jpg Idriss Déby 30 January 201630 January 2017Flag of Chad.svg  Chad Central Africa [28]
15 Alpha Conde - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012.jpg Alpha Condé 30 January 201728 January 2018Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea West Africa [29]
16 Paul Kagame 2014.jpg Paul Kagame 28 January 201810 February 2019Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda East Africa [30]
17 AbdelFattah Elsisi (cropped).jpg Abdel Fattah el-Sisi 10 February 20199 February 2020Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt North Africa [31]
18 Mr. Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General with H. E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President, South Africa (cropped) (cropped).jpg Cyril Ramaphosa 9 February 20206 February 2021Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Southern Africa [32]
19 Felix Tshisekedi - 2019 (cropped).jpg Félix Tshisekedi 6 February 20215 February 2022Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of Congo Central Africa [33]
20 President Macky Sall in 2020.jpg Macky Sall 5 February 202218 February 2023Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal West Africa [34]
21 President Azali Assoumani.jpg Azali Assoumani 18 February 202317 February 2024Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros East Africa [35]
22 Mukhammed Ul'd Gazuani 02 (18-02-2022).jpg Mohamed Ould Ghazouani 17 February 2024IncumbentFlag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania West Africa [36]

Bureau

The Chairperson is assisted by a bureau of four vice chairpersons including a rapporteur. [37]

PortraitIncumbentCountryRegionTitle
Joao Lourenco 2023.jpg João Lourenço Flag of Angola.svg  Angola Southern AfricaFirst Vice Chairperson
Congo[ clarification needed ]Central AfricaSecond Vice Chairperson
Nana Akufo Addo, Jan. 2020.jpg Nana Akufo-Addo Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana West AfricaThird Vice Chairperson
Azali Assoumani in New York City on September 19, 2023 - 53199606411 (cropped).jpg Azali Assoumani Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros East AfricaFourth Vice Chairperson (Rapporteur)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of the Comoros</span>

The Union of the Comoros consists of the three islands Njazidja, Mwali (Moheli) and Nzwani (Anjouan) while the island of Mayotte remains under French administration. The Politics of the Union of the Comoros take place in a framework of a unitary presidential republic, whereby the President of the Comoros is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The precolonial legacies of the sultanates linger while the political situation in Comoros has been extremely fluid since the country's independence in 1975, subject to the volatility of coups and political insurrection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addis Ababa</span> Capital and largest city of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. In the 2007 census, the city's population was estimated to be 2,739,551 inhabitants. Addis Ababa is a highly developed and important cultural, artistic, financial and administrative centre of Ethiopia. It also serves as the capital of the Oromia Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azali Assoumani</span> President of the Comoros (born 1959)

Azali Assoumani is a Comorian politician and military officer who has served as President of the Comoros from 2002 to 2006 and again since 2016, except for a brief period in 2019. He became head of state after staging a coup d'état in 1999 and was elected president in 2002, 2016, 2019 and 2024. He also served as Chairperson of the African Union February 2023 to February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Kufuor</span> President of Ghana from 2001 to 2009

John Agyekum Kufuor is a Ghanaian politician who served as the President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009. He also became the Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008 and his victory over John Evans Atta Mills at the end of Jerry Rawlings' second term marked the first transition of power in Ghana from a democratic government to another democratic government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jakaya Kikwete</span> President of Tanzania from 2006 to 2015

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is a Tanzanian politician who was the fourth president of Tanzania, in office from 2005 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of the African Union</span> Flag

The current flag of the African Union was adopted at its 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which took place in Addis Ababa on 31 January 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chairperson of the African Union Commission</span>

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the head of the African Union Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States of Africa</span> Political concept similar to the hypothesised United States of Europe

The United States of Africa is a concept of a federation of some or all of the 54 sovereign states and two disputed states on the continent of Africa. The concept takes its origin from Marcus Garvey's 1924 poem "Hail, United States of Africa".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Membe</span> Tanzanian politician (1953–2023)

Bernard Kamilius Membe was a Tanzanian politician. He served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania from 2007 to 2015. He also served as a Member of Parliament for Mtama constituency from 2000 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African Union</span> Continental union of African states

The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the African Union. The bloc was founded on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and launched on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa. The intention of the AU was to replace the Organization of African Unity (OAU), established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa by 32 signatory governments; the OAU was disbanded on 9 July 2002. The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Treki</span> Libyan diplomat (1937–2015)

Ali Abdussalam Treki was a Libyan diplomat in Muammar Gaddafi's regime. Treki served as one of Libya's top diplomats beginning in the 1970s and ending with the 2011 Libyan Civil War. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1976 to 1982 and again from 1984 to 1986, and he was later the permanent representative to the United Nations on several occasions. He was the president of the United Nations General Assembly from September 2009 to September 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Africa Forum Summit</span> Multilateral cooperation group

The India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the official platform for the African-Indian relations. IAFS will be held once in every three years. It was first held from April 4 to April 8, 2008 in New Delhi, India. It was the first such meeting between the heads of state and government of India and 14 countries of Africa chosen by the African Union. Libya and Egypt's heads of state did not attend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African Union Conference Center and Office Complex</span> Building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The African Union Conference Center and Office Complex (AUCC) is a building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is the headquarters of the African Union and plays host to the biannual AU summits. It also serves as a conference center for African and diaspora businesses. The main building is 99.9 m (328 ft) tall and it is the second tallest building in Addis Ababa. Its cost was US$200 million, and it was mainly funded by the Chinese government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chama Cha Mapinduzi</span> Dominant political party in Tanzania

The Chama Cha Mapinduzi is the dominant ruling party in Tanzania and the second longest-ruling party in Africa, only after the True Whig Party of Liberia. It was formed in 1977, following the merger of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP), which were the sole operating parties in mainland Tanzania and the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hakim Ben Hammouda</span> Tunisian economist and politician

Hakim Ben Hammouda is a Tunisian economist and was appointed the interim Finance Minister of Tunisia by the Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa. He has previously worked with the African Development Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amani Abou-Zeid</span> Egyptian development aid expert

Amani Abou-Zeid is an Egyptian development aid expert. She became the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union, Addis Ababa - African Union Commission in 2017. She worked for international organizations such as the African Development Bank (AFDB), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

References

  1. 1 2 "African Union Handbook" (PDF). African Union. 2014. p. 15.
  2. 1 2 3 "President Kufuor elected Chairman of AU". ghanaweb.com. Accra: Ghana News Agency. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  3. Kipkemoi, Felix (21 October 2023). "Ruto: We'll support Angola in its AU chairmanship bid". The Star. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  4. "African Union Chooses Kufuor Over Bashir for Chairman". Yahoo! Voices. 29 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  5. "Sudan loses AU chair over Darfur". Mail and Guardian. South Africa. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  6. "Gaddafi fails in bid to remain African Union chair". Addis Ababa: Reuters. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  7. "African Union row over Muammar Gaddafi's role". BBC News. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  8. "Equatorial Guinea President Named African Union Head; Rights Groups Object". Bloomberg News. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  9. "President voted AU deputy chair". The Herald. Zimbabwe. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  10. "Mugabe Scores A Feat, Set To Head AU at 91". radiovop.com. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  11. "Kenyatta and Azali vie for AU vice chairmanship". Africa Intelligence. Indigo Publications. 11 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-08-09. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  12. "PRESS RELEASE: President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros, Takes Over as the New Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for 2023". African Union. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  13. "Algiers and Rabat battle for 2024 African Union presidency". Africa Intelligence. 19 January 2023. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  14. Blunt, Elizabeth (27 March 2009). "African Union's eventful year with Gaddafi". BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  15. MUFUAYIA ACHERO DAVID (June 2015). "The role of Jakaya Kikwete in the mediation of the Kenyan Post-election conflict, 2008".
  16. Babarinde, Olufemi (April 2007). "The EU as a Model for the African Union: the Limits of Imitation" (PDF). miami.edu.
  17. "High hopes for AU Maputo Assembly". ANC Today. 4–10 July 2003. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  18. "Obasanjo Elected AU Chairman". Addis Ababa: Vanguard. 12 July 2004. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  19. "CONGO: Profile of Denis Sassou-Nguesso, new AU head". Brazzaville: IRIN. 24 January 2006. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  20. Appel, Michael (2 February 2008). "Kikwete takes over AU Chair". Pambazuka News. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  21. "Gaddafi vows to push Africa unity". BBC News. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  22. "Malawi president takes over as AU president". AFP. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-12-30. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  23. Hennig, Rainer Chr. (1 February 2011). "New AU leader Obiang calls criticism un-African". Afrol News. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  24. "President Thomas Yayi Boni elected as Chairperson of the African Union for 2012" (PDF) (Press release). Addis Ababa: Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission. 29 January 2012.
  25. Stainburn, Samantha (28 January 2013). "Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopia's PM, is new African Union Assembly chairman". GlobalPost. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  26. "President Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania elected African Union Chairperson". Addis Ababa: African Union. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  27. "Zimbabwe's Mugabe, 90, becomes African Union chairman". Reuters. 30 January 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  28. African Union [@_AfricanUnion] (January 30, 2016). "Prez Idriss Itno Déby of #Chad takes over as #AU Chairperson" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 January 2016 via Twitter.
  29. "President Alpha Conde of Guinea Has Been Elected New Chairperson of the African Union (AU)". African Union. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  30. "President Paul Kagame, Elected as New Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2018". African Union. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  31. "The 32ND African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit Kicks Off". African Union. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  32. Simon (February 10, 2020). "South African President Cyril Ramaphosa elected African Union Chairperson as continent vows to "silence the guns," boost trade and close gender gap". Today News Africa. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  33. "President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo Elected Chair Of The AU For The Year 2021". African Union. 22 February 2021.
  34. "PRESS RELEASES President Macky Sall of Senegal, Takes Over as the New Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for 2022". African Union. February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  35. AFP (18 February 2023). "New African Union chair brings controversial record to top post". France 24. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  36. "President of Mauritania Elected As New Chairperson of AU". ENA English. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  37. @_AfricanUnion (February 17, 2024). "Bureau of the Assembly 2024." (Tweet) via Twitter.