Comoros to assume Africa Union chairmanship in 2023

Comoros will assume for the first time the chairmanship of the African Union in 2023 as Senegal’s mantle comes to end this month.

The island takes the new role after the contender Kenya pulled out its bid, Africa News reports.

President Azali Assoumani and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto had been separately lobbying for the top post, the media notes.

The Comorian leader expressed Thursday in a statement gratitude to Kenya, saying the decision showed Nairobi’s “commitment to promoting unity and stability in the East African region”.

Assoumani will take over from Senegal’s Macky Sall who took the mantle in February from Democratic Republic of Congo’s Tshisekedi.

The holder of the AU chairmanship chairs the biannual summit meetings of the pan-African organization and represents the continent in various international fora.

The Chairperson of the continental organization is assisted by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.