AUC Chairperson

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the Chief Executive Officer, legal representative of the AU and the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer. He or she is directly responsible to the Executive Council for the discharge of his or her duties. The Chairperson of the Commission is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once. Election is by secret ballot and a two-thirds majority of Member States eligible to vote. Elections and terms are governed by the AU Assembly Rules of Procedure and the Commission Statutes

The Chairperson’s functions, include:

• Assuming overall responsibility for the Commission’s administration and finances
• Undertaking measures aimed at promoting and popularising the AU’s objectives and enhancing its performance
• Facilitating the functioning, decision-making and reporting of all AU organ meetings, and ensuring conformity and harmony with agreed AU policies, strategies, programmes and projects
• Consulting and coordinating with Member States’ governments, other institutions and the RECs on the AU’s activities, and carrying out the AU’s diplomatic representations
• Preparing, with the PRC, the AU budget and strategic planning documents
• Acting as a depository for all AU and OAU treaties and legal instruments
• Appointing and managing Commission staff
• Chairing all Commission meetings and deliberations
• Preparing the annual report on the AU and its organs’ activities.
• Submitting reports requested by the Assembly, Executive Council, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), committees and any other organs

The current chairperson of the African Union Commission is Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Chairpersons of the African Union Commission

• 2017– current - Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chad
• 2012–17- Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, South Africa
• 2008–12 - Jean Ping, Gabon
• 2003–08 - Alpha Oumar Konaré, Mali
• 2002–03 (OAU–AU transition years) - Amara Essy, Côte d’Ivoire (interim)