Mahamat Emergence as AU Commission Chair

The Association of Foreign Relations Professionals of Nigeria (AFRPN) on Monday, applauded the emergence of Moussa Faki Mahamat as Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission.

President of AFRPN, Amb. Ganiyu Lawal, who applauded Mahamat’s re-election in an interview with Newsmen in Abuja, said his return for a second term could ensure enhanced implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Faki, a Chadian politician and diplomat returns as chairperson of the commission for a second term unopposed with support from 51 out of 55 member states.

He was Prime Minister of Chad from June 24, 2003, to Feb. 4, 2005, and served as the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from April 2008 to Jan. 2017.

Before his re-election, Faki had been the chair of the AU Commission since March 14, 2017.

“Mahamat might do well, in terms of promoting AfCFTA implementation, as the commissioner that led the negotiations and signing of the agreement

“Majority of the team members of the AU Commission that fought to ensure AfCFTA implementation were re-elected.

“Amb. Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission, who contributed to the establishment was re-elected and will work closely with Mahamat to achieving targets.

“Thus, Mahamat, being surrounded by a strong team that will assist him will be able to implement the trade agreement effectively,” Lawal said.

The president of the association also applauded the emergence of Amb. Bankole Adeoye, as the African Union’s (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Council, saying his election would see him helping to tackle community/border-related issues.

Prior to to his emergence as AU’s commissioner, Adeoye was a Permanent Representative to the African Union, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.

Supreme reports that the Chairperson of the Commission is always elected by the Assembly of African Heads of States through secret ballot via two-thirds majority, for a four-year term that is renewable once