Nigerian Leaders

Complete List Of Chairpersons Of The AU Since 2002

• nigerianleaders
• February 10, 2025

The African Union (AU) is a continental organization comprising 55 African countries. It was launched in 2002 as the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), founded in 1963 to promote unity, end colonialism, and support African independence.

The AU was created to focus on deeper cooperation, economic growth, and political integration across Africa. Also, the AU aims to unite African nations, defend their sovereignty, and promote peace, security, human rights, and economic development.

It works through key bodies like the Assembly of Heads of State, the Executive Council, and the African Union Commission. The AU also supports regional cooperation, trade, and research in science and technology.

A major initiative of the AU is Agenda 2063, a long-term plan for a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated Africa. The AU also works with international partners to fight disease, improve governance, and promote human rights across the continent.

READ ALSO: 10 Biggest Cities In Nigeria (By Land Mass)

Complete List Of Chairpersons Of The AU Since 2002

This is a comprehensive list of the chairpersons of the African Union (AU) since its establishment in July 2002. Each chairperson serves a one-year term, with the position rotating among member states.

No	Name	Terme Of Office	Country	Region
1	Thabo Mbeki	9 July 2002 – 10 July 2003	South Africa	Southern Africa
2	Joaquim Chissano	10 July 2003 – 11 July 2004	Mozambique	Southern Africa
3	Olusegun Obasanjo	11 July 2004 – 24 January 2006	Nigeria	West Africa
4	Denis Sassou Nguesso	24 January 2006 – 24 January 2007	Republic of Congo	Central Africa
5	John Kufuor	30 January 2007 – 31 January 2008	Ghana	West Africa
6	Jakaya Kikwete	31 January 2008 – 2 February 2009	Tanzania	East Africa
7	Muammar Gaddafi	2 February 2009 – 31 January 2010	Libya	North Africa
8	Bingu wa Mutharika	31 January 2010 – 31 January 2011	Malawi	Southern Africa
9	Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo	31 January 2011 – 29 January 2012	Equatorial Guinea	Central Africa
10	Yayi Boni	29 January 2012 – 27 January 2013	Benin	West Africa
11	Hailemariam Desalegn	27 January 2013 – 30 January 2014	Ethiopia	East Africa
12	Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz	30 January 2014 – 30 January 2015	Mauritania	West Africa
13	Robert Mugabe	30 January 2015 – 30 January 2016	Zimbabwe	Southern Africa
14	Idriss Déby	30 January 2016 – 30 January 2017	Chad	Central Africa
15	Alpha Condé	30 January 2017 – 28 January 2018	Guinea	West Africa
16	Paul Kagame	28 January 2018 –10 February 2019	Rwanda	East Africa
17	Abdel Fattah el-Sisi	10 February 2019 –9 February 2020	Egypt	North Africa
18	Cyril Ramaphosa	9 February 2020 –6 February 2021	South Africa	Southern Africa
19	Félix Tshisekedi	6 February 2021 –5 February 2022	Democratic Republic of Congo	Central Africa
20	Macky Sall	5 February 2022 –18 February 2023	Senegal	West Africa
21	Azali Assoumani	18 February 2023 -17 February 2024	Comoros	East Africa
22	Mohamed Ould Ghazouani	17 February2024 - Incumbent	Mauritania	West Africa

READ ALSO: Top 10 Largest Catholic Churches In Africa By Capacity

AU Commission Departments

There are about 10 departments in the African Union:

1. Bureau of the Chairperson
2. Bureau of the Deputy Chairperson
3. Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)
4. Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Mining (ETTIM)
5. Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI)
6. Infrastructure and Energy
7. Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS)
8. Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development (HHS)
9. Women, Gender, and Youth
10. Civil Society and Diaspora

AUC Directorates And Special Units

The African Union Commission (AUC) comprises 13 directorates and special units that facilitate its operations:

1. Administration & Human Resources
2. Citizens & Diaspora
3. Conference Management and Publications
4. Information and Communication
5. Internal Audit
6. Legal Counsel
7. Medical and Health Services
8. Programming, Budget, Finance & Accounting
9. Protocol Services
10. Strategic Planning
11. Women, Gender & Development
12. Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation
13. Peace Fund Secretariat

READ ALSO: The Meaning Of SON in Nigeria And Their Functions

The First Chairman Of The AU

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki was the first chairman of the African Union (AU) when it was launched in 2002. He is a South African politician who served as the second democratic president of South Africa from 1999 to 2008.

Mbeki was the deputy to Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999. Born in 1942 in the Transkei region of South Africa, Mbeki was involved in politics from a young age.

His father, Govan Mbeki, was a leader in the African National Congress (ANC), and Thabo Mbeki followed in his footsteps. He joined the ANC Youth League in 1956 and later became a key member of the ANC’s leadership.

In 1962, he left South Africa to study in England and spent almost 30 years in exile. During this time, he worked as a diplomat for the ANC and was an integral part of ending apartheid.

After apartheid ended in 1994, Mbeki became South Africa’s deputy president. He was seen as Nelson Mandela’s chosen successor and became ANC president in 1997. In 1999, he won the presidency of South Africa.

His government improved economic growth, reducing public debt, and promoting black economic empowerment. Mbeki was a strong believer in African unity and development.

He promoted the idea of an “African Renaissance,” which aimed to rebuild and strengthen the continent. He was instrumental in creating the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and helped launch the African Peer Review Mechanism to improve governance in African countries.

One of the biggest controversies of Mbeki’s presidency was his stance on HIV/AIDS. His government delayed providing antiretroviral drugs to HIV-positive people, which led to many preventable deaths.

His views on HIV/AIDS were widely criticized, with many accusing him of denying the link between HIV and AIDS. Mbeki’s political career declined after Jacob Zuma defeated him in the ANC’s 2007 elections. In 2008, he was asked to resign as South Africa’s president by the ANC and was replaced by Kgalema Motlanthe.

READ ALSO: List Of All Ministers Of Education In Nigeria (1958-Present)

Current AU Chairman

Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed Ahmed Ould Ghazouani, known as Ghazouani, is the current chairperson of the African Union since February 2024. He has been the President of Mauritania since 2019 and was a high-ranking military officer before entering politics.

Born on December 4, 1956, in Boumdeid, Assaba region, he comes from a respected Berber-Sufi family. His father was a spiritual leader of the Maraboutic tribe Ideiboussat.

Ghazouani has memorized the Quran and is married to Mariam Bint Mohamed Fadel Ould Dah, a doctor. They have five children. Ghazouani joined the Mauritanian Army in the late 1970s and trained at the Meknes Royal Military Academy in Morocco.

He earned a baccalaureate degree, a master’s in Administration and Military Sciences, and completed specialized war training. He served as aide-de-camp to President Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya from 1987 to 1991.

He later became the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Mauritania from 2008 to 2018. Before becoming president, he briefly served as the country’s defense minister from October 2018 to March 2019.

Ghazouani was part of the 2005 military junta that removed President Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya and was a close ally of Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led the 2008 coup against President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi.

In 2019, he ran for president and won the election, marking Mauritania’s first peaceful transition of power since independence. He was officially sworn in on August 1, 2019.

Since becoming president, Ghazouani has maintained stability, improving social security, and fighting corruption. His government arrested former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz over financial misconduct. Also, he has been a key figure in the fight against jihadist violence in the region.