Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 31 March 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Commission H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat has congratulated the newly elected members of the Executive Bureau and Heads of Clusters of the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC). The elections took place on 30 March 2017, during the 2nd Permanent General Assembly meeting in Cairo, Egypt.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission particularly congratulates Mr. Richard SSEWAKIRYANGA, Executive Secretary of Uganda National NGO Forum, who was elected as the Presiding Officer. The Chairperson also takes the opportunity to commend the outgoing Presiding Officer, Dr. Joseph Chilengi, Executive Director of Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice of Zambia, for the significant and meaningful work that ECOSOCC has undertaken on the continent.

H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat also commends the members of ECOSOCC for organising smooth, peaceful, free and fair elections, as well implementing the AU policy decision on elected officials serving a maximum of two terms, which helps to promote the democratic values on the continent and in line with Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063.

The Chairperson takes the opportunity to enjoin ECOSOCC to continuously uphold and abide by the principles, rules and regulations that govern the various Organs of the AU.

He notes the critical role that ECOSOCC plays in representing the voice of Civil Society Organisations on the continent, therefore giving meaning to the AU as a Union of the People.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission urges the newly elected leadership of ECOSOCC to facilitate and popularise the implementation of Agenda 2063 in their various clusters in order for the continent to get one step closer to the aspirations of the continent, while promoting the norms and shared values of the African Union across their constituecies.

ECOSOCC was established under the provisions of articles 5 and 22 of the AU Constitutive Act. Its Statutes, adopted by the AU Assembly in July 2004, define it as an advisory organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States (Assembly/AU/ Dec.48(III)).

For further information contact

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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