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Mauritanian President Assumes Leadership of African Union For 2024.

By Caroline Ameh

At the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government, President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania has been chosen as the new chairman of the African Union for the year 2024. This transition follows the end of tenure of President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros, who held the Chairperson position in 2023.

The selection of President Ghazouani occurred on Saturday, February 17, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where leaders from across the continent convened to deliberate on critical regional and continental matters.

With his new role, President Ghazouani is tasked with guiding the AU’s agenda and initiatives throughout the year, addressing pressing challenges and advancing the collective interests of African nations on the global stage.

In parallel, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the head of the African Union Commission, expressed apprehension about the ongoing political crisis in Senegal during the summit’s opening session.

He stressed the imperative of conducting “free and transparent” elections in the country at the earliest opportunity. These remarks followed Senegalese President Macky Sall’s announcement on Friday, reaffirming his commitment to organizing presidential elections “as soon as possible.”

The political unrest in Senegal originated from the decision by the country’s top constitutional body to defer the scheduled presidential elections, initially slated for February 25, until December.

President Sall cited disputes over the disqualification of potential candidates and apprehensions about a resurgence of unrest, reminiscent of incidents in 2021 and 2023, as grounds for the postponement.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, President Sall underscored his determination to resolve the crisis in a manner that upholds democratic principles and ensures stability in the West African nation.

As Senegal navigates through this challenging period, regional and international stakeholders remain vigilant, urging all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and pursue peaceful avenues for resolution, in the best interest of the country and its populace.

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