The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) have elected H.E Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros, as the new Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2023.
The event took place today, Saturday 18 February 2023 during the official opening of the Thirty-Sixth (36th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
President Azali of Comoros is taking over the baton of command from H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, who has concluded his term as the Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2022.
The symbolic ceremony took place in the presence of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, H.E Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), representatives of the Regional Economic Commission, dignitaries and invited guests as well as the AU staff.
The composition of the new bureau of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union for 2023 as presented by the Dean of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) is as follows:
- Chairperson of the African Union (AU) – H.E Azali Assoumani Union of Comoros (East African region)
- First Vice Chair of the Union – (Northern Region), consultations are still ongoing;
- Second Vice Chair of the Union – Republic of Botswana, (Southern Region);
- Third Vice Chair of the Union – Republic of Burundi, (Central Region); and
- Rapporteur – Republic of Senegal – (West African region).
In his handing over speech, President Macky Sall, wished the new AU Chairperson, a successful Chairmanship and thanked the Heads of States of AU Member States as well as the AU outgoing bureau, for their support during the tenure of his mandate which he said, was marked by the prevailing sanitary crisis caused by the COVID19 pandemic.
President Sall highlighted some of the achievements under his chairmanship of the Union notably, the economic empowerment of the women and youths, the enhancement of democracy and good governance, among other development programs under Agenda 2063.
The outgoing Chair of the Union thanked the AUC Chairperson, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat for his leadership and support, including all the members of the Commission.
“Serving our continent has been a privilege and a great pride because I believe in a united Africa, an Africa standing up, an Africa at work, an Africa in peace and confident in its future,” underlined President Macky Sall.
Adding that, this has made him more determined and even more motivated, “at the front of the fight for Africa, everywhere, for everything and all the time; because it is the responsibility conferred on us by the heritage of the Pan-Africanism, to realize the dream of the Founding Fathers and the aspirations of our peoples”.
In his acceptance speech, President Azali Assoumani said he appreciates the honour coupled with the responsibility and the trust invested in his person, and the members of the new Bureau, to lead the destiny of the Organization for the next year.
“I thank you and assure you of our commitment to work together with all member countries in the exercise of our mandate,” indicated the incoming Chair of the Union.
“I pay tribute to the founding fathers of the Organization. Six decades later, their luminous vision continues to inspire our living together and to illuminate our united march towards the ideal of African integration,” he added.
President Azali Assoumani further stated that it is with great emotion, thanking the members of the Bureau of the African Union who have just done a great honour to his country, the Union of Comoros, by “entrusting in Comoros for the first time in its history, the destinies of our continental Organization”.
He also thanked colleagues, brothers and sisters from the countries of East Africa for having supported his candidature for this noble function.
“My Dear Brother, President William Ruto had the elegance to withdraw the candidacy of his beautiful country, Kenya, for this position, which today allows the historic accession of the Union of the Comoros to this noble function. By allowing the Union of Comoros to lead the African continent, our organization has just proved to the world its conviction that all countries have the same rights and enjoy the same freedoms,” underscored the incoming Chair of the Union.
“Thus, in succeeding, in this sacred place, to my brother President Macky Sall, as current President of the African Union, it is with the weight of the continental responsibility on my shoulders, that I intend to assume, as of today, the functions of President of the African Union, in this 36th Ordinary Session.”
“It will not be easy to succeed him, but I will do my best to continue his work and, among other things, by favouring as he has always been able to do, dialogue, listening and gathering, essential conditions to make this mandate, that of the success of our Continent,” he concluded.
