APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The executive council of the African Union Commission (AUC) have been discussing modalities to elect a new senior leadership to replace the one led by Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The discussion took place at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, during the 22nd extraordinary session of the executive council of the commission on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, chairperson of the executive council of the AU Commission Mohamed Salem Merzoug underscored the need to strengthen institutions of the African Union to help the commission fully discharge its responsibilities and accelerate Africa’s integration.
“The process of selecting leadership of the AUC in 2025 for four years should be defined by prioritizing considerations of cohesion, equity, rationality, and a spirit of consensus,” said Merzoug, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, And Mauritanians Abroad.
The 2025- 2028 elections of senior leadership for the AU Commission, is set to take place in February next year. The elections are expected to see new AUC leaders to succeed the incumbent chairperson, deputy chairperson and commissioners.
“Our vision for the future of our continent is intricately linked to our fervent belief in the African Union – a union that cannot exist without us, by us, and for us,” said the chairperson noting that a strong African Union cannot be materialized without deep commitment of its member states.
The senior leadership of the African Union is elected to serve for a term of four years, with the option for re-election for another four-year term. The senior elective posts include the position of the African Union Commission Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson, and six Commissioners.
According to a statement released late Friday by the AU, the Executive Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, among other issues, discussed the modalities of regional rotation and gender parity to ensure all five regions of the African Union have a fair chance of having leadership roles at the continental organization.
Election of the AU Commission Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson by the Assembly is conducted by secret ballot and a two-thirds majority of member states eligible to vote.
Incumbent Moussa Faki Mahamat is not running for a third term.
The former foreign minister of Chad became AUC chair on 30 January 2017, succeeding South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
He had defeated Kenya’s Amina Mohamed on a secret ballot.
MG/as/APA