African Union to elect new chairperson in January

December 28, 2007 (ADDIS ABABA) — The African Union is expected to appoint a new chief for its executive body during the next summit of the head of states and government in January next year, an Ethiopian daily newspaper reported today.

According to the constitutive Act of the African Union, the chairperson and the eight commissioners are elected for a four-year term which expired in July this year.

Election of the new Chairperson and his office was supposed to take place during Accra, Ghana AU summit last July. But it was postponed to the next Summit of Heads of State and government in January 2008.

The deadline for submission of additional candidature for chairperson, deputy chairperson and commissioners was October 13, 2007.

According to the Daily Monitor, the AU Commission Chairperson Professor Alpha Oumr Konare has made it official that he will not seek a second term, despite recommendations by some leaders and heads of regional and international organizations.

But the Ethiopian daily disclosed that there is a tacit agreement among the AU Heads of State and government that Konare must stay, for a year, at least.

However Zambia presented a candidate to replace Konare, Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, who is her country’s ambassador to the United States.

In her bid for the AU Chairpersonship, Ambassador LEWANIKA visits Ethiopia, accompanied by former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda. Given that Addis Ababa is the city of the African Union, Ethiopia’s endorsement will be crucial in the bid for the position.

(ST)