ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 2, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The new Chairperson of the African Union (AU), H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad, was elected today, Saturday 30 January 2016, by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, during their 26th Ordinary Session holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
President Idriss Debby is taking over from H.E Mr. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, as the new Chairperson of the Union for the year 2016.
The newly elected bureau of the African Union is as follows:
Chairperson: H.E Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad.
First Vice-Chairperson: H.E Yayi Bony Thomas, President of the Republic of Benin
Second Vice-Chairperson: H.E Paul KAGAME, President of the Republic of Rwanda
Third Vice- Chairperson: Honorable Ageila Salah Issa, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the State of Libya
Fourth Vice-Chairperson H.E Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
During the handing over ceremony, the outgoing Chairperson of the Union, President Mugabe thanked his pairs and his country for the support they gave him during his mandate. He commended the AU Commission under the leadership of H.E Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for the good work in pursuing the transformation reforms under Agenda 2063 and for the support they gave to his team.
President Mugabe said he had the privilege as Chair of the Union to travel all over the continent and beyond. He said, he had the opportunity to visit many African countries and he cherished the moments when he met with the young people who are the future of tomorrow. “It was an honour to guide our Organisation to implement its vision of the Africa We Want”, concluded President Mugabe before handing over the symbols of the Union to his successor, the President Idriss Deby of Chad. “You can continue to count on my support”, noted the outgoing Chairperson.
Speaking earlier, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr. Dlamini Zuma thanked the outgoing Chairperson of the Union, for the excellent cooperation and guidance offered during his term in 2015; “including the politics and history classes that punctuated the deliberations, and that kept us engaged”, she underlined.
The newly elected Chair of the Union, hailed the outgoing Chairperson for his panafrican spirit and commitment to put Africa’s Agenda at the center of priorities during his term as Chair of the Union. President Deby highlighted in his acceptance speech the major programs to be undertaking during his mandate. He will have among other important duties to ensure the implementation by AU Member States of the theme 2016: African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on the Rights of Women and the Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063. He will further mobilize the continent to implement the AU Agenda 2063 with the view to place Africa as a key player in the world arena.
