Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 13 June 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, learnt with profound sadness the passing away of the Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union, Joachim Schmidt. The death was announced on 12 June 2017.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission expresses his sincere condolences to the family of the Late Amb. Joachim Schmidt. He also addresses same to the Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The AU Commission Chairperson takes the opportunity to commend the remarkable contribution of the Late Amb. Schmidt in strengthening the relationship between Germany and the African Union.

H.E. Joachim Schmidt began his tour of duty in Ethiopia and the AU in July 2014. Prior to that, he had been German Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. He had also been Head of the German Foreign Service Academy.