The Republic of Burundi has for the first time been elected to one of African Union’s highest office attracting massive congragulatory messages from across the continent.
On Saturday, the AU convened at its Headquarters in Addis Ababa for the Thirty-Sixth (36th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union.
The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) duly elected Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros, as the new Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2023.
President Azali Assoumani of Comoros, has taken over the baton of command from Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal.
“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,” President Azali Assoumani said in his acceptance speech.
The symbolic ceremony took place in the presence of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, 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);
Rapporteur – Republic of Senegal – (West African region)