AU chairperson candidates to face off in a debate

Five aspirants of the African Union Chairperson position will face off in a debate on December 9 ahead of their election in January 2017.

The African Union Commission sent out invitation on Tuesday for the debate which will be in the town hall format at the Union’s headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

The Commission currently chaired by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the debate is meant to transform the union by giving “the broad African public an opportunity to be informed and participate in the work of the commission.”

The five candidates for the African Union Commission Chairperson position include: Botswana’s foreign minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Chad’s foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat, Equatorial Guinea’s foreign minister Agapito Mba Mokuy, Kenya’s foreign minister Amina Mohamed and Senegal’s Bathily Abdoulaye who is the special UN envoy for Central Africa.

The South African Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been the AU chairperson since 2012 and did not apply for a second term during the earlier nomination process.

The new elections will be held during the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government from January 30 to 31 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.