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Chairperson of the African Union

AU's ceremonial head

Chairperson of the African Union
Summary

AU's ceremonial head

FieldValue
postChairperson
bodythe
African Union
flagFlag of the African Union.svg
flagcaptionFlag of the African Union
imageJoão Lourenço 2023.jpg
incumbentJoão Lourenço
incumbentsince15 February 2025
styleExcellency
abbreviationCPAU
appointerthe Assembly
termlengthOne year
constituting_instrumentConstitutive Act of the AU (article 6)
precursorChairperson of the OAU
formation9 July 2002
firstThabo Mbeki
deputyBureau
website

the ceremonial head of the African Union

African Union

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. It rotates among the continent's five regions.

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.

The current Chairperson is Angolan President João Lourenço. The Republic of the Congo has expressed an interest for the position in 2026.

History

Main article: Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity

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. 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.

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, 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.

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.

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.

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

For 2025, Botswana had sought an interest; however Angola was selected.

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.

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.

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. 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[[File:SthAfrica.ThaboMbeki.01 (cropped).jpg100px]]Thabo Mbeki9 July 200210 July 2003South AfricaSouthern Africa
2[[File:Joaquim Chissano 2004-08-31.jpg100px]]Joaquim Chissano10 July 200311 July 2004MozambiqueSouthern Africa
3[[File:Olusegun Obasanjo 1-2.jpg100px]]Olusegun Obasanjo11 July 200424 January 2006NigeriaWest Africa
4[[File: Denis Sassou Nguesso 1986 cropped.jpg100px]]Denis Sassou Nguesso24 January 200624 January 2007Republic of CongoCentral Africa
5[[File:John Kufuor 1-1.jpg100px]]John Kufuor30 January 200731 January 2008GhanaWest Africadate= 29 January 2007title= President Kufuor elected Chairman of AUurl=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/President-Kufuor-elected-Chairman-of-AU-118128location= Accrapublisher=Ghana News Agencywebsite=ghanaweb.comaccess-date= 2014-01-31}}
6[[File:Jakaya Kikwete 2011 crop.jpg100px]]Jakaya Kikwete31 January 20082 February 2009TanzaniaEast Africa
7[[File:Muammar al-Gaddafi at the AU summit (3x4).jpg100px]]Muammar Gaddafi2 February 200931 January 2010Libyan Arab Jamahiriya LibyaNorth Africa
8[[File:Bingu wa Mutharika 2009-09-23.jpg100px]]Bingu wa Mutharika31 January 201031 January 2011MalawiSouthern Africa
9[[File:Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the White House in 2014.jpg100px]]Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo31 January 201129 January 2012Equatorial GuineaCentral Africa
10[[File:Yayi Boni.jpg100px]]Yayi Boni29 January 201227 January 2013BeninWest Africa
11[[File:Hailemariam Desalegn 2014.jpg100px]]Hailemariam Desalegn27 January 201330 January 2014EthiopiaEast Africa
12[[File:Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz August 2014 (cropped).jpg100px]]Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz30 January 201430 January 2015MauritaniaNorth Africa
13[[File:Robert Mugabe May 2015 (cropped) (2).jpg100px]]Robert Mugabe30 January 201530 January 2016ZimbabweSouthern Africa
14[[File:Idriss Déby at the White House in 2014.jpg100px]]Idriss Déby30 January 201630 January 2017ChadCentral Africa
15[[File:Alpha Conde - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012.jpg100px]]Alpha Condé30 January 201728 January 2018GuineaWest Africa
16[[File:Paul Kagame 2014.jpg100px]]Paul Kagame28 January 201810 February 2019RwandaEast Africaurl=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20180128/president-paul-kagame-elected-new-chairperson-african-union-year-2018title=President Paul Kagame, Elected as New Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2018date=28 January 2018publisher=African Unionaccess-date=29 January 2018 }}
17[[File:AbdelFattah Elsisi (cropped).jpg100px]]Abdel Fattah el-Sisi10 February 20199 February 2020EgyptNorth Africaurl=https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20190210/32nd-african-union-au-heads-state-and-government-summit-kickstitle=The 32ND African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit Kicks Offdate=10 February 2019publisher=African Unionaccess-date=10 February 2019 }}
18[[File:Prime Minister Sunak met with President Ramaphosa of South Africa in Number 10 - 2022 (cropped).jpg100px]]Cyril Ramaphosa9 February 20206 February 2021South AfricaSouthern Africaurl=https://todaynewsafrica.com/south-african-president-cyril-ramaphosa-elected-african-union-chairperson-as-continent-vows-to-silence-the-guns-boost-trade-and-close-gender-gap/title=South African President Cyril Ramaphosa elected African Union Chairperson as continent vows to "silence the guns," boost trade and close gender gapauthor=Simonpublisher=Today News Africadate=February 10, 2020access-date=February 10, 2020}}
19[[File:Félix Tshisekedi - 2019 (cropped).jpg100px]]Félix Tshisekedi6 February 20215 February 2022Democratic Republic of CongoCentral Africaurl=https://au.int/en/articles/president-felix-antoine-tshisekedi-tshilombo-elected-chair-au-year-2021title=President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo Elected Chair Of The AU For The Year 2021last=first=date=22 February 2021website=publisher=African Unionaccess-date=quote=}}
20[[File:President Macky Sall in 2020.jpg100px]]Macky Sall5 February 202218 February 2023SenegalWest Africa
21[[File:President Azali Assoumani.jpg100px]]Azali Assoumani18 February 202317 February 2024ComorosEast Africaurl=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230218-new-african-union-chair-brings-controversial-record-to-top-posttitle=New African Union chair brings controversial record to top postauthor=AFPpublisher=France 24date=18 February 2023accessdate=18 February 2023}}
22[[File:Мухаммед Ульд Газуани 02 (18-02-2022).jpg100px]]Mohamed Ould Ghazouani17 February 202415 February 2025MauritaniaNorth Africa
23[[File:João Lourenço 2023.jpg100px]]João Lourenço15 February 2025IncumbentAngolaSouthern Africauser=_AfricanUnionnumber=1890705604953379045title=H.E. João Lourenço, Angola is the African Union Chairperson 2025..}}

Bureau

The Chairperson is assisted by a bureau of three vice chairpersons including a rapporteur.

PortraitIncumbentCountryRegionTitle
[[File:Évariste Ndayishimiye (3x4 cropped).jpg75px]]Évariste NdayishimiyeBurundiCentral AfricaFirst Vice Chairperson
[[File:Ali Khamenei receives John Dramani Mahama in his house (6).jpg75px]]John MahamaGhanaWest AfricaSecond Vice Chairperson
[[File:International leaders sign joint statement at COP26 (51649202102) (Suluhu crop).jpg75px]]Samia Suluhu HassanTanzaniaEastern AfricaThird Vice Chairperson
[[File:Мухаммед Ульд Газуани 02 (18-02-2022).jpg75px]]Mohamed Ould GhazouaniMauritaniaNorth AfricaRapporteur

References

References

  1. (2014). "African Union Handbook". African Union.
  2. (6 March 2024). "Sassou-Nguesso aims for AU presidency in 2026". Africa Intelligence.
  3. (29 January 2007). "African Union Chooses Kufuor Over Bashir for Chairman". Yahoo! Voices.
  4. (29 January 2007). "Sudan loses AU chair over Darfur". Mail and Guardian.
  5. (31 January 2010). "Gaddafi fails in bid to remain African Union chair". Reuters.
  6. (28 January 2010). "African Union row over Muammar Gaddafi's role". BBC News.
  7. (30 January 2011). "Equatorial Guinea President Named African Union Head; Rights Groups Object". Bloomberg News.
  8. (31 January 2014). "President voted AU deputy chair". The Herald.
  9. (31 January 2014). "Mugabe Scores A Feat, Set To Head AU at 91". radiovop.com.
  10. (11 February 2022). "Kenyatta and Azali vie for AU vice chairmanship". Indigo Publications.
  11. (18 February 2023). "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.
  12. (19 January 2023). "Algiers and Rabat battle for 2024 African Union presidency". Africa Intelligence.
  13. (20 October 2023). "Luanda seeks to outmanoeuvre Botswana in race for 2025 AU presidency". Africa Intelligence.
  14. Blunt, Elizabeth. (27 March 2009). "African Union's eventful year with Gaddafi". BBC.
  15. MUFUAYIA ACHERO DAVID. (June 2015). "The role of Jakaya Kikwete in the mediation of the Kenyan Post-election conflict, 2008".
  16. (April 2007). "The EU as a Model for the African Union: the Limits of Imitation".
  17. (4–10 July 2003). "High hopes for AU Maputo Assembly". ANC Today.
  18. (12 July 2004). "Obasanjo Elected AU Chairman". Vanguard.
  19. (24 January 2006). "CONGO: Profile of Denis Sassou-Nguesso, new AU head". IRIN.
  20. (29 January 2007). "President Kufuor elected Chairman of AU". Ghana News Agency.
  21. Appel, Michael. (2 February 2008). "Kikwete takes over AU Chair". Pambazuka News.
  22. (2 February 2009). "Gaddafi vows to push Africa unity". BBC News.
  23. (31 January 2010). "Malawi president takes over as AU president". AFP.
  24. Hennig, Rainer Chr.. (1 February 2011). "New AU leader Obiang calls criticism un-African". Afrol News.
  25. (29 January 2012). "President Thomas Yayi Boni elected as Chairperson of the African Union for 2012". Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission.
  26. Stainburn, Samantha. (28 January 2013). "Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopia's PM, is new African Union Assembly chairman". GlobalPost.
  27. (30 January 2014). "President Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania elected African Union Chairperson". African Union.
  28. (30 January 2015). "Zimbabwe's Mugabe, 90, becomes African Union chairman". Reuters.
  29. African Union. (30 January 2016). "Prez Idriss Itno Déby of #Chad takes over as #AU Chairperson".
  30. (30 January 2017). "President Alpha Conde of Guinea Has Been Elected New Chairperson of the African Union (AU)". African Union.
  31. (28 January 2018). "President Paul Kagame, Elected as New Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2018". African Union.
  32. (10 February 2019). "The 32ND African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit Kicks Off". African Union.
  33. 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.
  34. (22 February 2021). "President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo Elected Chair Of The AU For The Year 2021". African Union.
  35. (February 5, 2022). "PRESS RELEASES President Macky Sall of Senegal, Takes Over as the New Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for 2022". African Union.
  36. AFP. (18 February 2023). "New African Union chair brings controversial record to top post". France 24.
  37. "President of Mauritania Elected As New Chairperson of AU".
  38. "H.E. João Lourenço, Angola is the African Union Chairperson 2025..".
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This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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