The President of the African Union Commission has been re-elected for a four-year term. 60 year old Moussa Faki Mahamat will remain at post after he collected 51 votes out of 54 votes with 3 abstentions, during a closed meeting of heads of state and government of the continent over the weekend.
While the re-election of the Chadian diplomat comes as no surprise as he was the only candidate for his succession, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chad said he was deeply honoured by the overwhelming and historic vote of confidence of the Member States of the AU.
During Saturdays vote, the post of Vice-President of the Commission, went to Rwandan Monique Nsanzabaganwa who won 42 votes, more than two thirds required.
Meanwhile, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi will take over as African Union (AU) Chairman from South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
AU Policy analyst Emmanuel Bensah who doubles as Deputy Executive Director of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Policy Network-Ghana & Diaspora, says while Moussa Faki Mahamat faced some corruption allegations he will have to shake off in his second term, President Tshisekedi has a tough task ahead.