Highlights: Mauritania takes rotating presidency of the African Union, ending months of blockage. The decision to succeed the Comoros was taken unanimously by the countries of the North African bloc, to which the position fell. This puts an end to long months of negotiations and uncertainty due to the rivalry between Morocco and Algeria. Mauritania's mandate will not be easy. The continent is going through numerous crises, whether it is the Sudanese civil war, the violence on the DRC-Rwanda border, the Ethiopia-Somalia tensions.

Mauritania officially agreed to assume the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) in 2024 this Saturday, February 17, during the opening ceremony of the 37th ordinary AU summit. There…

Mauritania takes rotating presidency of the African Union, ending months of blockage

Mauritania officially agreed to assume the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) in 2024 this Saturday, February 17, during the opening ceremony of the 37th ordinary AU summit. The decision to succeed the Comoros was taken unanimously by the countries of the North African bloc, to which the position fell. This puts an end to long months of negotiations and uncertainty due to the rivalry between Morocco and Algeria.

The new president of the African Union and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani speaks during the opening ceremony of the body, in Addis Ababa on February 17, 2024. © Amanuel Sileshi / AFP

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Nouakchott,

Léa Breuil

Mohamed Ould Gazouani said he was “

deeply grateful

” but also “

aware of the extent of the responsibilities

”: the Mauritanian head of state has just taken over the presidency of the African Union (AU).

This announcement comes after long months of uncertainty due

to the divide between Algeria and Morocco

. The two countries had declared themselves candidates and

their rivalry had created a blockage for more than a year

. Seen as a “

neutral candidate

”, Mauritania had been approached to apply and unblock the situation.

After long hesitation, particularly due to the presidential election planned in the country in June 2024, Nouakchott ended up accepting.

This compromise solution was necessary, according to Mohamed Salem Mouloud, a former senior official in Mauritanian foreign affairs: “

I think that the constant in Mauritanian policy of playing an active role in African politics has taken over. Mauritania has good relations in Africa with all African countries. It is an example of stability, the fight here against terrorism, this absence of political destabilization, all that makes Mauritania a good candidate.

Mauritania's mandate will not be easy. The continent is going through numerous crises, whether it is the Sudanese civil war, the violence on the DRC-Rwanda border, the Ethiopia-Somalia tensions, the decision of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to leave ECOWAS, or even the political crisis in Senegal, a neighboring country.

Mauritania takes rotating presidency of the African Union, ending months of blockage

Mauritania takes rotating presidency of the African Union, ending months of blockage

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