Chairperson of the African Union

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Chairperson of the
African Union
AU emblem.png
Emblem
Idriss Déby 2014 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Idriss Déby
since 30 January 2016
Appointer the Assembly
Term length One year
Inaugural holder Thabo Mbeki
Formation 9 July 2002
Deputy Bureau
Website www.au.int/en

The Chairperson of the African Union is the ceremonial head of the African Union elected by the Assembly of Heads of State for a one-year term.[1] It rotates among the continent's five regions.

History

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Main article: Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity

In 2002, South African President Thabo Mbeki served as the inaugural chairman of the union. The post rotates annually amongst the five geographic regions of Africa; and over the years it has assumed the following order: East, North, Southern, Central and West Africa.

In January 2007, the assembly elected Ghanaian President John Kufuor over Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir due to the ongoing Conflict in Darfur.[2][unreliable source?] The government of Chad threatened to withdraw its membership if Sudan assumed the chair. Some had suggested Tanzania as a compromise candidate from the East African region. By consensus, Ghana was elected instead as it was celebrating its 50th independence anniversary that year.[3]

In January 2010, Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi unsuccessfully tried to extend his tenure by an additional year,[4] saying more time was needed in order to implement his vision for a United States of Africa - of which he was a strong proponent. Libya was at the time one of the largest financial supporters of the AU.[5]

The election of Equatoguinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in January 2011 was criticized by human rights activists as it undermined the AU's commitment to democracy.[6] Congolese Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe have both led the AU and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity during the terms 1986-8 and 1997-1998 respectively.[7][8]

Role

The incumbent is the ceremonial head of the AU and in this capacity, chairs the biannual summits and represents the continent in various international fora such as TICAD, FOCAC, G8 and G20 summits.

List of Chairpersons

# Portrait Chairperson Took Office Left Office Country Region
1 100px Thabo Mbeki[9] 9 July 2002 10 July 2003  South Africa Southern Africa
2 100px Joaquim Chissano[10] 10 July 2003 6 July 2004  Mozambique Southern Africa
3 100px Olusegun Obasanjo[11] 6 July 2004 24 January 2006  Nigeria West Africa
4 100px Denis Sassou Nguesso[12] 24 January 2006 24 January 2007  Republic of Congo Central Africa
5 100px John Kufuor[13] 30 January 2007 31 January 2008  Ghana West Africa
6 100px Jakaya Kikwete[14] 31 January 2008 2 February 2009  Tanzania East Africa
7 100px Muammar Gaddafi[15] 2 February 2009 31 January 2010  Libya North Africa
8 Bingu Wa Mutharika - World Economic Forum on Africa 2008.jpg Bingu wa Mutharika[16] 31 January 2010 31 January 2011  Malawi Southern Africa
9 Teodoro Obiang detail, 1650FRP051.jpg Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo[17] 31 January 2011 29 January 2012  Equatorial Guinea Central Africa
10 Yayi Boni.jpg Yayi Boni[18] 29 January 2012 27 January 2013  Benin West Africa
11 Hailemariam Desalegn - Closing Plenary- Africa's Next Chapter - World Economic Forum on Africa 2011.jpg Hailemariam Desalegn[19] 27 January 2013 30 January 2014  Ethiopia East Africa
12 Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz August 2014 (cropped).jpg Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz[20] 30 January 2014 30 January 2015  Mauritania North Africa
13 Robert Mugabe, 12th AU Summit, 090202-N-0506A-417.jpg Robert Mugabe[21] 30 January 2015 30 January 2016  Zimbabwe Southern Africa
14 Idriss Deby Itno IMG 3617.jpg Idriss Déby[22] 30 January 2016 Incumbent  Chad Central Africa

Bureau

The Chairperson is assisted by a bureau of three vice-chairpersons and a rapporteur.[23]

Portrait Incumbent Country Region Title
No image.svg Patrice Talon  Benin West Africa First Vice-Chairperson
100px Paul Kagame  Rwanda East Africa Second Vice-Chairperson
No image.svg Nouri Abusahmain[what? clarification needed]  Libya North Africa Third Vice-Chairperson
Robert Mugabe May 2015 (cropped).jpg Robert Mugabe  Zimbabwe Southern Africa Rapporteur

References

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  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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