The African Union has concluded the election of all eight members of the top leadership of its secretariat, the African Union Commission (AUC), following the deferment of the election of two Commissioners at the Union’s 38^th Ordinary Summit, which was held in February this year. The affected portfolios were: Economic Development Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM), and Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI). The candidates for these posts were to come from the Central Region, as per a decision of the Executive Council, to ensure gender parity, predictable rotation, merit-based selection and equitable distribution of the top 8 jobs. All other regions secured their share of two members of the top leadership team, one male and one female each, in February.

Consequently, the elections of the two Commissioners took place at the African Union’s 7^th Mid Year Coordination Meeting which was held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from 10^th to 13^th July. H.E. Mrs. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe from Equatorial Guinea was elected to lead the Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM) Department, while H.E. Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona from Burundi secured the Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) portfolio. The new commissioners will be sworn in at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The complete executive leadership team to steer the African Union Commission from 2025 to 2029 comprises:

H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti- Eastern Region), Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has extensive diplomatic experience. He served as Djibouti's Foreign Affairs Minister since 2005 and previously held roles such as Ambassador to Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. He also chaired the Council of Ministers of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The Chairperson holds a master’s degree in management from the University of Laval, Canada. He will lead the AUC for a four-year term, focusing on the implementation of Agenda 2063 and other AU projects with continental scope, and steer the continent towards the attainment of the AU vision of a peaceful, prosperous and united Africa, driven by its own citizens and having a strong voice in the global arena.

H.E. Selma Malika Haddadi (Algeria- Northern Region), Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, is a seasoned diplomat and legal expert. She has served as Algeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan, and held various roles in her country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. H.E. Haddadi is a sworn lawyer and member of the Algiers Bar Association, with master’s degrees in Private Law from the Peace and Development Law Institute, Law School, Nice- Sophia Antipolis University, and Private International Law from the Law School, Nantes University. Her extensive experience spans diplomacy, law, and international relations.

H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye (Nigeria- Western Region), was re-elected as the Commissioner for the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department at the African Union Commission. A seasoned diplomat, he previously served as Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti. Commissioner Adeoye has also held key roles at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and in Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Lagos and a Postgraduate Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford.

H.E. Mr. Moses Vilakati (Eswatini, Southern Region) was elected to head the Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) Department. He served as a minister in Eswatini in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs in 2018 to 2023, prior to which he was the Minister of Agriculture from 2013 to 2018. Previously, he served as the Project Director at the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise, the Agribusiness Project Manager at the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (EWADE), and Project Director and Lecturer at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA). He has a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Agriculture (International Development) from the California Polytechnic State University.

H.E. Ms. Lerato Mataboge (South Africa- Southern Region), Commissioner for the Infrastructure and Energy Department at the African Union Commission, is a global policy and trade expert. She served as Deputy Director-General in South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and was the Chief Executive Officer of Trade Invest Africa. Ms Mataboge has extensive experience in trade, investment, and infrastructure development, including leading South Africa's engagements in BRICS, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She holds a master’s degree in international political economy (International Trade and Global Finance) from the University of Warwick, UK.

H.E. Ambassador Amma Twum-Amoah (Ghana- Western Region) leads the Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development Department at the African Union Commission. A seasoned diplomat, she served as Ghana's Ambassador to several countries, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Ambassador Twum-Amoah held various roles in Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director of Economic, Trade, and Investment, and served in diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C., Canberra, and Geneva. She holds an MBA from the University of Canberra, Australia. Her extensive experience spans diplomacy, international relations, and development.

H.E. Mrs. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe (Equatorial Guinea, Central Region) was elected to lead the Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM) Department. Prior to this role, she served as Vice-President of the Commission of the Economic Community of East African States (ECCAS). She previously served as 2^nd Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea’s National Assembly, and Minister and Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade, and Promotion of Small to Medium Enterprises. She holds a master’s degree in political science with a focus on development from the Johan Wolfgang von Goethe Universitat, and has extensive experience in national, regional, and international roles.

H.E. Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona (Burundi, Central Region) was elected to lead the Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI) Department. He has served as Executive Director of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA). Prior to that, he was a Minister of National Education and Scientific Research in Burundi as well as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Burundi. He holds a PhD in Sciences from the Katholiek Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, and a master’s degree in aquaculture.

The African Union Commission is the secretariat of the African Union. Its functions include representing the AU and defending its interests and common positions globally; liaising with other AU organs in the implementation of policies, initiatives and strategies agreed to by its statutory bodies; assisting the Union’s 55 member states in implementing AU programmes; harmonizing policies and actions with those of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs); managing the AU budget and resources; and taking action as delegated by the Union’s statutory bodies. Its structure comprises a Chairperson, a Deputy Chairperson, six Commissioners and staff members.

Read more on the AU Commission Elections 2025

For more information, please contact:

1. Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head of Communication and Knowledge Management| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africanunion.org
2. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar| Senior Communication Officer| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africanunion.org