31 Mar 2016

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi has been endorsed as the candidate for the Southern Africa Region for election to the office of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).

According to a press release from the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the decision was taken at the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Southern Africa Region held in Gaborone on March 23.

The release further states that as the candidate, Dr Venson-Moitoi will compete for the position of the AUC chairperson with candidates from other regions of Africa.

The current AUC chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s four year term of office ends in June 2016 and elections for the new chairperson will be held during the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, which will take place from June 17-18 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The release says the chairperson of the AUC is the chief executive officer, legal representative of the AU and the commission’s accounting officer.

The press release states that the chairperson also exercises executive functions in the running of the AU affairs and is responsible for the delivery of the agenda of the organization aimed at advancing greater continental integration for a more prosperous Africa.

The AUC comprises of the chairperson, deputy chairperson and eight commissioners of peace and security, political affairs, trade and industry , infrastructure and energy, social affairs, rural economy and agriculture, human resources, science and technology and economic affairs. ENDS