African Heads of State under the aegis of the African Union, AU have elected Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe as the chairman of the body.
In taking the position, which rotates between the continent’s five regions, 90-year-old Mugabe replaces Mauritania’s Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz, erstwhile chairman of the AU.
In his acceptance speech at the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mugabe acknowledged the onerous responsibility that lies ahead of him as the head of the Union, and promised to carry out his duties to the best of his ability.
Regarded as Africa’s longest-serving leader, Mugabe has been the leader of Zimbabwe since the country’s independence in 1980. He is highly respected by many on the continent after he led Zimbabwe to independence.
Mugabe was also reputed for promoting reconciliation when he initially assumed office but later changed after he introduced controversial land reforms that forced Zimbabwean white farmers into exile.
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