The European Union has congratulated Angola’s President João Lourenço on his election as the new chairperson of the African Union.

The Angolan leader was elected African Union chair at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa from February 15 to 16, 2025.

The European bloc congratulated Mr Lourenço in a message posted on the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) handle, @eu_eeas.e.

The EU also congratulated the newly elected Chairperson of the African-Union Commission, Mahmoud Youssouf and his deputy, Selma  Haddadi.

The EU said in the post that the year 2025 marked the 25th
anniversary of the mutually beneficial partnership between the EU and Africa.

“Africa is a geo-political priority for the EU and we will continue our strong political dialogue and action,” the EU said in the post.

Mr Youssouf, the new chairperson of the African Union Commission, is from Djibouti.

Haddadi will deputise him from Algeria. Both mandates are for four years, renewable once. Both elected officials garnered the required two-thirds majority votes of the 49 member states eligible to vote.

Six AU member states are under sanctions and were ineligible to vote.

The 60-year-old Mr Youssouf is taking over the reins of leadership of the African bloc from former chairperson Moussa Mahamat, who is from Chad.

Mr Mahamat served as AU chairman for two consecutive terms since 2017.

(NAN)