President Mohamed Ghazouani Elected as African Union Chairman for 2024

The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) have elected President Mohamed Ghazouani of Mauritania as the new chairman of the union for the year 2024. The election took place during the ongoing 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President Ghazouani succeeds President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros, who served as the AU Chairperson for the year 2023. His appointment marks a significant milestone in AU leadership, as the bloc managed to navigate tensions over the one-year rotating AU chairmanship, which was smoothly transferred from President Assoumani to President Ghazouani.

The succession process had previously encountered obstacles due to a dispute between Morocco and Algeria, underscoring internal divisions within the AU. Despite these challenges, the AU continues to strive for a stronger voice on the global stage, including its participation in the G20 grouping, which it joined in September.

However, the AU faces daunting challenges ahead, with 19 presidential or general elections scheduled on the continent this year. The International Crisis Group highlighted the AU’s ambitious institutional commitments and tools for mediation and peacekeeping but noted its limited political and financial capacity to fully utilize them. Member states tend to prioritize sovereign prerogatives over collective security, contributing to internal discord.

Another significant topic of discussion at the summit revolves around the AU’s transition towards relying more on African states to fund its budget, rather than foreign donors. While the UN Security Council adopted a resolution in December to finance AU-led peace missions, funding remains capped at 75 percent of the budget, prompting discussions on financial sustainability and self-reliance within the AU.