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(NYASATIMES) Wa Mutharika to be next African Union chair

Wa Mutharika to be next African Union chair
By Nyasa Times
Published: September 10, 2009

Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika will take over the chairmanship of African Union after the country’s bid has been endorsed by Southern African Development Community (SADC). Malawi and Ethiopia were the two countries bidding on the chairmanship of the AU, which rotates annually, and will now be taken over by a SADC member state.

The 29th ordinary session of the SADC heads of state and government at the African Union (AU) village in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo supported Malawi’s candidature to be the next African Union, AU, chairperson.

According to a communiqué released by SADC obtained by Nyasa Times, Wa Mutharika will be the next AU chair after the summit commended the peoples of Malawi for conducting themselves in a free and peaceful manner during the last May elections.

Wa Mutharika will take over from Libyan leader Muamar Ghaddafi, who is the current chairman of the AU.

The summit also renewed the appointment of Dr. Thomaz Salamao as Executive Secretary and Joao Chaholo as his Deputy for Regional integration.

President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo is the new chairperson for SADC and is deputized by his Namibian counterpart, Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Labels: AU, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA

posted by MrK @ 4:57 PM