The African Union (AU) has announced the appointment of two new commissioners, marking the completion of electing top leadership for its secretariat, the African Union Commission (AUC).
In a statement seen by APA on Thursday, the union said the elections of two commissioners for the AUC was held at its 7th Mid Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea ten days ago.
The union said Francisca Tatchouop Belobe from Equatorial Guinea was appointed as AU Commissioner for the Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals while Gaspard Banyankimbona from Burundi was elected as AU Commissioner for the Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Recalling the postponement of elections of the two posts at the union’s 38th Ordinary Summit, which was held in February this year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the pan African bloc said the new commissioners will be sworn in at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The continental bloc said the new commissioners were selected from the central African region as per a decision of its executive council in a bid to ensure gender parity, predictable rotation, merit-based selection and equitable distribution of the top eight jobs.
All other regions secured their share of two members of the top leadership team, one male and one female each, in February, the statement stated.
MG/as/APA