This is the most comprehensive list of AU Chairpersons from 2002 till present. The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) is a ceremonial leader elected for a one-year term, with the position rotating among the five African regions: East, North, Southern, Central, and West Africa.
However, the chairperson is selected either by consensus or a two-thirds majority vote from member states. They lead biannual summits and represent the continent at international events. The chairperson also resolves crises and acts as an elder statesman.
List Of Chairpersons Of The African Union (AU) From 2002 Till Date
No. | Name | Term of Office | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Thabo Mbeki | 9 July 2002 – 10 July 2003 | South Africa |
2 | Joaquim Chissano | 10 July 2003 – 11 July 2004 | Mozambique |
3 | Olusegun Obasanjo | 11 July 2004 – 24 January 2006 | Nigeria |
4 | Denis Sassou Nguesso | 24 January 2006 – 24 January 2007 | Republic of Congo |
5 | John Kufuor | 30 January 2007 – 31 January 2008 | Ghana |
6 | Jakaya Kikwete | 31 January 2008 – 2 February 2009 | Tanzania |
7 | Muammar Gaddafi | 2 February 2009 – 31 January 2010 | Libya |
8 | Bingu wa Mutharika | 31 January 2010 – 31 January 2011 | Malawi |
9 | Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo | 31 January 2011 – 29 January 2012 | Equatorial Guinea |
10 | Yayi Boni | 29 January 2012 – 27 January 2013 | Benin |
11 | Hailemariam Desalegn | 27 January 2013 – 30 January 2014 | Ethiopia |
12 | Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz | 30 January 2014 – 30 January 2015 | Mauritania |
13 | Robert Mugabe | 30 January 2015 – 30 January 2016 | Zimbabwe |
14 | Idriss Déby | 30 January 2016 – 30 January 2017 | Chad |
15 | Alpha Condé | 30 January 2017 – 28 January 2018 | Guinea |
16 | Paul Kagame | 28 January 2018 – 10 February 2019 | Rwanda |
17 | Abdel Fattah el-Sisi | 10 February 2019 – 9 February 2020 | Egypt |
18 | Cyril Ramaphosa | 9 February 2020 – 6 February 2021 | South Africa |
19 | Félix Tshisekedi | 6 February 2021 – 5 February 2022 | Democratic Republic of Congo |
20 | Macky Sall | 5 February 2022 – 18 February 2023 | Senegal |
21 | Azali Assoumani | 18 February 2023 – 17 February 2024 | Comoros |
22 | Mohamed Ould Ghazouani | 17 February 2024 – Incumbent | Mauritania |
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Who Was The First Chairman Of AU?
Thabo Mbeki, a South African politician, was the first chairman of the African Union (AU), serving from July 2002 to July 2003. The AU was created to replace the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which had existed since 1963.
Thabo Mbeki was born on June 18, 1942, in Idutywa, a small town in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. His family was politically active, and his father was a member of the African National Congress (ANC).
Mbeki studied at the University of Fort Hare, and he joined the ANC Youth League. Because of his anti-apartheid activism, he went into exile in 1962 to avoid government repression.
During his years in exile, Mbeki worked with the ANC in London and was a key figure in promoting international sanctions against apartheid South Africa. After apartheid ended, Mbeki returned to South Africa in 1990.
He became the ANC’s head of international affairs and later served as Deputy President under Nelson Mandela in 1994. In 1999, he succeeded Mandela as President of South Africa. Mbeki became the first chairman of the AU when it officially started operating in July 2002.
He supported economic integration to encourage trade and investment between African countries. However, Mbeki’s term as AU chairman ended in July 2003, and he was succeeded by John Kufuor, the President of Ghana.
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Who Is The Current Chairman Of The OAU?
The current Chairperson of the African Union (AU) is His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh Al-Ghazouani, who is also the President of Mauritania. He was appointed as the AU Chairperson in February 2024 after being elected during the AU Assembly.
His term will last for one year. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Al-Ghazouani was born on December 31, 1956, in Akjoujt, Mauritania. He studied at a military academy in France and graduated as a second lieutenant.
He started his military career in the late 1970s and held important positions, rising through the ranks. Al-Ghazouani was an integral part of Mauritania’s politics during times of military and civilian rule.
In 2008, he was the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and was a key figure in a coup that removed President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi. In 2019, he ran for president of Mauritania and won.
Since then, he has improved the country’s economy by going beyond mining and agriculture, strengthening national security in response to terrorism threats in the Sahel region, and introducing social programs to improve healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
As Chairperson of the African Union, Al-Ghazouani is working on unity among African countries to solve shared problems like climate change, health crises, and economic inequality.
He also wants to resolve conflicts in member states, promote peace, and encourage sustainable development and economic cooperation across Africa.
Al-Ghazouani has been supporting peace efforts in countries like Sudan and Ethiopia. He advocates for stronger public health systems and is pushing for better action to fight climate change.