Zimbabwe's President Mugabe is now Elected African Union Chairman
Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe has taken
over the post of African Union chairman today, Friday
(Jan. 30), replacing Mauritania's President Mohamed
Ould Abdel Aziz.
Mugabe, Africa's oldest president aged 90, shook
hands with Abel Aziz in front of fellow leaders to
applause at the AU summit in the Ethiopian capital.
"By electing me to preside over this august body,
with full knowledge of the onerous responsibility that
lies ahead, I humbly accept your collective decision,"
Mugabe said, as he thanked leaders for granting him
the position.
Mugabe, a former liberation war hero who is Africa's
third-longest serving leader, is viewed with deep
respect by many on the continent.
But he is also subject to travel bans from both the
United States and European Union in protest at
political violence and intimidation.
The former guerrilla leader who has ruled Zimbabwe
since independence in 1980, is accused of crushing
opponents to ensure his ZANU-PF party won every
election for more than three decades.
Mugabe described his memories of attending the
AU's forerunner in 1963, the Organization of African
Unity (OAU), also in Addis Ababa.
"Africa has come a long way since then," he said.
over the post of African Union chairman today, Friday
(Jan. 30), replacing Mauritania's President Mohamed
Ould Abdel Aziz.
Mugabe, Africa's oldest president aged 90, shook
hands with Abel Aziz in front of fellow leaders to
applause at the AU summit in the Ethiopian capital.
"By electing me to preside over this august body,
with full knowledge of the onerous responsibility that
lies ahead, I humbly accept your collective decision,"
Mugabe said, as he thanked leaders for granting him
the position.
Mugabe, a former liberation war hero who is Africa's
third-longest serving leader, is viewed with deep
respect by many on the continent.
But he is also subject to travel bans from both the
United States and European Union in protest at
political violence and intimidation.
The former guerrilla leader who has ruled Zimbabwe
since independence in 1980, is accused of crushing
opponents to ensure his ZANU-PF party won every
election for more than three decades.
Mugabe described his memories of attending the
AU's forerunner in 1963, the Organization of African
Unity (OAU), also in Addis Ababa.
"Africa has come a long way since then," he said.
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