By Haruna Gimba
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.
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.
Under new rules, a chairperson and deputy cannot be of the same gender.
But the duo will face a tough test as Africa battles the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than three million people.
The continent was not as badly hit compared to the United State and Europe during the outbreak in March, but many African countries are now battling damaging second waves and are under pressure to procure sufficient vaccine doses.
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.
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.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has also taken over the helm from South Africa to serve as a one-year chairmanship of the union.
