Africa News
African Union fails to elect new chairperson
Jan 30, 2012, 17:35 GMT
Johannesburg/Addis Ababa - The African Union failed to elect a new head for its secretariat at its annual summit on Monday, for the first time in the organization's history.
The 54-member regional body will instead hold a new election for the AU Commission chair at its next summit in Malawi in July, according to AU sources and media reports.
The two candidates - incumbent Jean Ping and South African Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - both failed to gather the required two-thirds of votes.
For Ping, a diplomat from Gabon, the vote in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa was seen as a sign of no-confidence and he would likely not stand again. It was unclear if Dlamini-Zuma would make a second bid.
Deputy chairperson Erastus Mwencha from Kenya would take over the top job at the AU Commission until the members decide on a permanent chief.
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