The President of Angola, H.E. João Lourenço has taken over as the African Union Chairperson for 2025.
This happened on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
He has taken over from H.E. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the president of Mauritania who has been the African Union Chairperson since 17 February 2024.
The position was contested by Angola and Botswana.
The AU is holding its 38th session currently in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
The president of Angola will be assisted by Burundi as 1st Vice Chairperson, Ghana as 2nd Vice Chairperson, and Tanzania as 3rd Vice Chairperson.
The rapporteur is the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
Election of AU Commissioner Expected Today
As part of the deliberations this weekend is also the election of AU Commission Chair.
Three candidates are also vying for the position.
They are Raila Odinga from Kenya, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti, and H.E. Richard Randriamandrato from Madagascar.
The mandate of Chadian Faki Moussa Mahamat has however, expired.
He was elected on March 14, 2017.
Whoever assumes leadership this weekend will be faced with challenges in the continent, including the conflict in the Democratic Repulic of Congo, Sudan and and the rescent cut in funding for diseases in Africa by the US.
