afrol News, 1 February - President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania was on Thursday elected the Chairman of the 53-member African Union at the 10 heads of state and government in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

President Kikwete succeeds President John Kufuor of Ghana. It was the turn of East Africa to hold the continental body's leadership this year.

The outgoing Chairman, who announced the news, congratulated his successor.

Libya, Lesotho and Cameroon were respectively elected first, second and third Chairpersons of the AU. Ghana would be going home with the post of a Rapporteur.

President Kikwete thanked his colleagues for electing him to lead the union faced with so many challenging issues of concern, especially the looming political bloody unrests in the neighbouring Kenya.

The new AU leader promised to foster peace and security initiatives in Africa.

Industrialisation in Africa is the theme of the Addis Ababa summit.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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