Guinean President Alpha Condé has been elected as the new Chairman of the African Union. He succeeds his Chadian counterpart, Idriss Déby Itno. The rotating AU presidential election was held during the general assembly of Heads of State shortly before the opening ceremony of the Summit of Heads of State in Addis Ababa today Monday the 30th of January.

Immediately after his electoral victory, the new Chairman observed that the African Union must be more concerned with the people of the continent. “The unity of our continent and solidarity in these leaders were the ideal that animated the founding fathers of our organization. The great majority of the population continues to suffer from poverty, unemployment, crises of various kinds, including terrorism, immigration and disease, depriving our continent of arms and brains that are likely to continue to develop it.” He declared.

“It is our common responsibility to improve the living conditions of these young people in search of better futures outside the continent and to end their suicidal adventures across the Sahara and the waters of the Mediterranean. The African Union would not justify its existence if it does not improve the lives of the people “.

By Chi Prudence Asong