Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 9 March 2017: The outgoing Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the first ever woman to head the continental organisation, will officially handover her post as Chairperson of  AU Commission to H. E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Tuesday, 14 March 2017.

The official handover ceremony between the outgoing and incoming Commissions will take place at 3:00 PM in the Nelson Mandela Hall at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The outgoing Chairperson, H.E. Dr. Dlamini Zuma, will, together with other dignitaries, welcome the incoming Chairperson, H.E. Faki Mahamat, tonight, Thursday, 9 March 2017 at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

Both the outgoing and incoming Chairpersons will also co-preside over a two-day joint retreat between the two Commissions, which is scheduled to take place from 10 to 11 March 2017, aimed at ensuring a smooth transition.

In a series of farewell events, the outgoing Chairperson Dr. Dlamini Zuma will officially bid farewell to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia on Saturday, 11 March 2017.

On 1 March 2017, the outgoing Chairperson thanked all AU Commission Staff, Member States and partners for their contribution and support during her tenure as Chairperson of the Commission. Dr. Dlamini Zuma expressed her satisfaction with the strong foundation in place for the realisation Africa’s Agenda 2063 and wishes the incoming Commission nothing but more success in implementing and championing the continent’s Agenda.

The incoming Commission was elected by AU Member States during the 28th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government in January 2017.