New senior leadership of the African Union Commission assumes office.

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March 13, 2025

The newly elected African Union Commission Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and the Commissioners have assumed office today, 13 March 2025, following the handover ceremony that saw the outgoing leadership pass the baton to the incoming leadership. The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson were elected and sworn-in at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 15 February 2025. Four of the six Commissioners were today sworn-in at the handover ceremony following their election and appointment at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on 12 February 2025.

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission pledged his commitment to address institutional challenges and to assert Africa’s position in the global architecture. He stated “Africa must take its destiny into its own hands. It's time to assert ourselves as a determined continent, capable of influencing major global decisions and proposing solutions to the crises that affect us. I pledge today to act with determination to raise our Union to the level of our peoples' expectations. We must breathe new life into our organization, strengthen our unity and assert Africa's place in the concert of nations.”

While outlining the priority areas, H.E. Youssouf underscored the urgency to accelerate the implementation of the Second Ten-Year Plan of Agenda 2063 to meet the expectations of the African population; to work towards the financial autonomy of the African Union to reduce dependence on external funding by exploring innovative financing mechanisms; to strengthen the collaboration between African Union institutions; to fast track the implementation of institutional reforms to address administrative and structural blockages, and relatedly, expedite the completion of the Commission’s Skills Audit and Competency Assessment process. He added, “we must be an agile player, capable of responding to emergencies and anticipating future challenges.”

In his appreciation note recalling the impact and challenges of leading the continental organization in the last eight years, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat remained optimistic in the human capacity, determination and passion of the African people to move forward the agenda towards the Africa We Want. He noted, “we have done what we can. As I have said, there are certainly gaps and shortcomings. I'm sure that, with your fresh impetus and your faith in our organization, you'll go far beyond the frontiers that are ours today and the legacy we're leaving you. Everywhere, as you know as well as I do, new projects have been launched. It will be up to you to deepen, to correct, to change, to imagine new solutions that we have not been able to create or find. The dynamics of change will be your best support. Dare to go where we couldn't.”

He also rallied on the dynamism of the continent's lifeblood, in particular its women and young people. He concluded with expression of his support to the new leadership. “We will remain disciplined soldiers, even in retirement, to bring you what remains of our energy and experience.”

In his remarks at the ceremony, H.E. Taye Atske-Selassie, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia observed that the new leadership of the Commission have assumed their mandates at a time when the global order is facing unprecedented challenges, and multilateralism is under increasing strain. The escalating conflicts, scourge of terrorism and climate crisis continues to threaten Africa’s development aspirations. The President however noted that beyond the challenges lie extraordinary opportunities stating that “our G-20 membership is not merely a seat at the table; it is a platform that will make Africa an active contributor in shaping our collective economic destiny. Without meaningful African participation, the G20's Common Framework for Debt Treatment has proven to be inadequate, and inundated by inefficiency, delays, and a lack of clarity. We must also push for Africa’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council so that we will sure be part of the decisions that will affect and determine the destiny of our continent.”

He expressed his confidence in the new leadership to resolutely pursue peace and security on the continent by addressing the drivers of conflict, championing Africa’s food sovereignty through strategic agricultural investment; forging an interconnected continent by leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), securing an energy-sufficient-Africa by encouraging member states to implement strong policy frameworks, and to pursue financial sustainability by garnering the support of African financial institutions such as the African Credit Rating Agency to advance development.

H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and the African Union Chairperson, lauded the work of the outgoing leadership and their impactful delivery on the implementation of the programmes and projects of Agenda 2063. He also expressed his confidence in the ability of the new leadership to steer the continent towards a more industrialized, peaceful and inclusive Africa where all Africa citizens can benefit from the economic growth, improved well-being and welfare, justice, and freedoms.

He underscored the need to have a look at the challenges facing the continent and to find more creative solutions. “I have observed the unreserved commitment by the leadership to the realization of our great aspirations, which essentially consist of promoting the development of the continent, the construction and modernization of the infrastructure we need to ensure the functioning of our industries, the efficient performance of our services, the flow of our export products, and enhanced intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Area. The issue of infrastructure deserves special attention from this commission, which I urge to craft a strategy aimed at mobilizing Africa’s International partners interested in making investment with mutual advantages. Infrastructure is an essential pillar of the Agenda 2063 and that obliges us to mobilize the largest possible volume of financial resources to achieve the goals we have set such as technological innovation and energy transition”, he stated.

The elected officials of the African Union Commission serve for a four-year term, renewable once. The elections of the posts of two Commissioners - Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, Mining (ETTIM), and Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI)-, will be conducted in the upcoming 24th Extraordinary session of the Executive Council.

The African Union Commission is the key organ playing a central role in the day-to-day management of the African Union. Among others, it represents the Union and defends its interests; elaborates draft common positions of the Union; prepares strategic plans and studies for the consideration of the Executive Council; elaborates, promotes, coordinates and harmonizes the programmes and policies of the Union with those of the Regional Economic Communities, and ensures the mainstreaming of gender in all programmes and activities of the Union. Members of the Commission include the Chairperson; the Deputy Chairperson; six (6) Commissioners, and staff members.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Doreen Apollos | Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission | E-mail ApollosD@africa-union.org 