Moussa Faki Mahamat

ESAT News (January 31, 2017)

Chadian Foreign Minister, Moussa Faki Mahamat, was elected on Monday as the new chairperson of the African Union (AU) commission replacing outgoing South Africa’s Dlamini Zuma, Sudan Tribune reported on Tuesday.

Mahamat assumed AU’s top post after an election held Monday by AU heads of State and Government, who form the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa.

The 56-year old diplomat win the election beating his prime rival Kenyan Foreign Minister, Amina Mohamed, after head of states from the 54-member states cast their votes in a private ballot.

Potential candidates need to sweep at least two-thirds which is equivalent to 36 votes to win the top position.

Moussa’s win came after seven rounds of voting, as he secured the support of 39 votes.

The Chadian candidate had the support of Western, Central and Northern Africa regions which gather Francophone and Arab countries and some eastern Africa countries, the report said.

The Union on Monday also decided to readmit Morocco as its 55th member. Instead of voting, the African leaders reached a consensus on Monday to readmit Morocco.

Morocco withdrew from the the Organization for African Union in 1984 in protest against the decision to welcome the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

The African Union was established on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and launched on 9 July 2002 in South Africa, with the aim of replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

OAU was established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, with 32 signatory governments.