Republic of South Africa Minister of Home Affair, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is currently a candidate for the African Union Commissioner. She is challenging Jean Ping, the current holder of this position, from Gabon., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
African leaders meet over thorny issue of AU chairman
Tuesday, 15 May 2012 00:00
COTONOU— Several African leaders met in Cotonou yesterday to examine again the thorny issue of the election of a new chairman of the African Union Commission, a key post being contested by Gabon and South Africa.
The one-day gathering was held to try to end the impasse after African leaders failed to choose between Gabon’s Jean Ping, who has held the post since 2008 and South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 63, a former foreign minister and ex-wife of the president.
“The entire continent is keenly watching our deliberations and is hoping a definitive solution will emerge from this meeting,” African Union chairman and Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi said.
“In the face of the multiple challenges which face Africa today, we cannot over-emphasise the urgent need for us to find . . . solutions that will end the current difficult situation,” he said.
Ping was present at the meeting, along with the presidents and prime ministgers of several African states.
At the AU summit in Addis Ababa in January, African leaders extended Ping’s mandate by six months following the deadlock in the election for a new AU Commission chairman. — AFP.
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