African Union leaders on Sunday appointed President Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin as the chairman of the 54-memberpan-African body, making the announcement at the 18th AU Summit in Addis Ababa.
The Benin Republic leader succeeds the Equatorial Guniea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema as chairman, whose election had been condemned due to his past tainted record. Yayi says he is eager to “ensure that peace comes back our continent,” adding that he accepts with humility the “the high responsibility.”
“We shall continue to work hand in glove to ensure that we consolidate all what we have achieved so far,” Boni Yayi said, an economist who is not expected to rock the boat in his new post, a largely ceremonial position.
The two-day summit focused on resolving Africa’s pressing top issues, including the ongoing war in Somalia, oil disputes between Sudan and South Sudan as well as the rise in Boko Haram terrorist attacks in Nigeria.
Addressing the issues, President Yayi called for peace and urged fellow African leaders to come together in unity for the progress and development of the nation.
The position of AU chairperson is rotated among African leaders and held for one year. Diplomatic sources say Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh had been seriously considered for the post, while some leaders had proposed Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to sources for the South African Mail&Guardian, “quite a number of African leaders” had approahced Jonathan, hoping he will take a shot at becoming chair.
However the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had thrown its considerable weight behind the Yayi and he nabbed the appointment.
