Azali Assoumani, new president of the African Union

19 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Heads of State and Government members of the African Union (AU) have elected this Sunday in Addis Ababa the Comorian Azali Assoumani as the new president of the alliance, thus taking over from the Senegalese Macky Sall, during the thirty-sixth session of the AU.

The ceremony took place at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the presence of the president of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat and the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, among other authorities.

The former president Sall has recognized during his farewell speech the impact of the covid-19 pandemic during his term and has highlighted some of his achievements, among which he has mentioned the economic empowerment of women and young people or the revitalization of the democracy, all within the framework of the African Agenda 2036.

“Serving our continent has been a privilege and a great source of pride, because I believe in a united Africa, an Africa on its feet, an Africa working, an Africa at peace and confident in its future”, stressed Sall.

On the other hand, during the acceptance speech of the new president, he made reference to the honor granted to his country, by “trusting the Comoros for the first time in its history, the destinies of our continental Organization”.

Finally, the new leader also wanted to pay homage to the work of Sall, whose work “he wishes to continue” in order to promote “dialogue, listening and meeting”, he concluded.

The appointment took place during the summit that takes place this weekend in Addis Ababa, which has led to a controversy during the day on Saturday after the expulsion of the Israeli delegation during the opening session.

Part of the participating Israeli delegation has been expelled from the conference room in a new episode of the open dispute after the country’s declaration, despite the opposition of several member states, as an observer of the organization.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the expulsion, among others, of the deputy director for Africa of the Ministry, Sharon Bar-li, in a decision that, according to the African Union, has been given because the diplomat lacked an invitation to the event .