AU assembly re-elects incumbent chairperson, 1st female deputy

The African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government had re-elected Moussa Faki Mahamat for a second term as the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, reported Xinhua.

The assembly, which is meeting virtually Saturday and Sunday, also elected Rwandan Monique Nsanzabaganwa as deputy chairperson of the AU, who secured a two-thirds majority (42) votes during the election, in a highly contested position from another two women candidates.

Nsanzabaganwa becomes the first woman to occupy the position of the deputy chairperson.

According to the AU, some 51 of the 55 AU members voted in favor of Mahamat's re-election for a second four-year term, which will see him at the helm of the pan-African bloc.

Mahamat, the veteran Chadian diplomat, on Saturday presented an assessment of his first-term activities to the assembly of African leaders.

Mahamat, who was elected by African leaders to lead the 55-member pan-African bloc back in January 2017 during the 28th AU Summit, last week announced "eight major priorities," seeking re-election.

According to the Constitution Act of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now AU, the Chairmanship of the AU Commission is for a period of four years mandate renewable once.

The 2021-2024 elections of senior leadership for the AU Commission also filled the positions of some Commissioners.

The newly appointed four AU Commissioners will govern various portfolios -- Josefa Sacko from Angola was re-elected to head the Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment docket; Albert Muchanga, from Zambia, was re-elected to the post of Economic Development, Trade and Industry and Mining; Amani Abou-Zeid, from Egypt, was re-elected to continue serving in the Infrastructure and Energy docket; Bankole Adeoye, from Nigeria, was also voted to take the helm of the Political Affairs, Peace and Security docket.

Elections for the posts of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development; and Education, Science, Technology and Innovation were postponed to the next meeting of the Executive Council. The incumbent Commissioners Amira Elfadil and Sarah Agbor, respectively, will continue to serve in their current positions until the elections are conducted.

According to the AU, the elections demonstrate progress on the implementation of the institutional reforms of the Union adopted in 2018 directing that from 2021, the Commission shall be composed of eight members -- the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and six Commissioners from the previous ten member commissions.

The reforms also included decisions to enhance the transparency and meritocracy of the leadership selection process, in which the selection principles were said to be based on "equitable regional representation, gender parity, predictable rotation, attracting and retaining Africa's top talent, accountable and effective leadership and management, and transparent and merit-based selection."

This is the first time, in the history of the African Union, that the elections have been held virtually occasioned by the containment measures instituted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.