Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie today received his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, who arrived to preside over the handover ceremony of the African Union (AU) Commission.
Selassie welcomed Lourenço at Bole International Airport and was accompanied by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Biturkan Ayano, according to images shared by the Presidential Office on its social media account X.
The change of command of the AU’s executive body will take place tomorrow in the Nelson Mandela Hall. According to protocol, Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat will hand over the leadership to Djiboutian Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Youssouf will be supported in these roles by Algerian Selma Malika Haddadi, after being elected by two-thirds of the votes during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African continental organization held on February 15 and 16.
During the ceremony, the Commissioners for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment; Infrastructure and Energy; Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development will assume their responsibilities.
The election, scheduled for mid-year, is still pending for those who will lead the Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals commissions; and for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, whose candidates must be from the central region of the continent.
