Senegal president is new African Union chair

Senegalese President H.E. Macky Sall is the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for the year 2022. He took over from President Felix- Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Macky Sall took office on Saturday at the official opening of the 35th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The theme for the ongoing session is ‘Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of the Human, Social and Economic Development’. 


President Tshisekedi in his handing over speech highlighted some achievements during his chairmanship of the Union, including the economic empowerment of women and youth, enhancement of democracy and good governance, and other development programmes under Agenda 2063.

In his acceptance speech, President Macky Sall said he appreciates the honour and indicated his commitment to the Union.

“I thank you and assure you of our commitment to work together with all member countries in the exercise of our mandate. I pay tribute to the founding fathers of the Organization. Six decades later, their luminous vision continues to inspire our living together and to illuminate our united march towards the ideal of African integration”.

Commending the work done by his predecessor, President Tshisekedi, the newly AU Chairperson expressed appreciation for the considerable efforts he devoted to the service of the African continent.

He also noted that, “as our Union celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, we can be proud of the progress made under major initiatives such as NEPAD, PIDA, APRM, Vision 2063, institutional reform, the Great Green Wall, the AfCFTA and more recently our coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic”.

“I do not forget the resurgence of the phenomenon of coups d’état which constitutes a major attack on democracy and institutional stability on the continent”, concluded the new AU Chair.

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