Mauritania President now new AU Chairman

…takes over from President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros

The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) have elected the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani as the new chairman of the African Union for 2024.

Ghazouani takes over from President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros, who was the Chairperson for 2023.

His selection took place on Saturday, February 17 during the ongoing 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In another development, the head of the African Union Commission voiced concern on Saturday about the political crisis in Senegal but said he hoped “free and transparent” elections would be held there soon.

Moussa Faki Mahamat’s comments at the opening session of the AU summit came after Senegalese President Macky Sall vowed Friday to organise presidential elections “as soon as possible”.

The move followed the decision on Thursday by Senegal’s top constitutional body to overrule this month’s vote.

Sall’s last-minute move to postpone the February 25 poll until December triggered Senegal’s worst crisis in decades.

Sall, who has been in power in the west African country since 2012, said he called off the elections over disputes about the disqualification of potential candidates and concern about a return to unrest seen in 2021 and 2023.

“The situation in Senegal, a model country in terms of democracy, worries us to a great degree,” Faki said.

But he said he welcomed the government decision to follow the Constitutional Council’s ruling.

Faki said he hoped there would be a “spirit of consensus” to organise “inclusive, free and transparent elections” as quickly as possible.