President Zuma returns from the African Union Heads of State and Government Ad - Hoc Committee Meeting

President Jacob Zuma has today, 18 March 2012, returned to South Africa after attending the African Union Heads of State and Government Ad - Hoc Committee in Cotonou, Benin, yesterday, 17 March 2012.

This Ad-Hoc Committee was formed following a deadlock in the voting of a new African Union Commission Chairperson at the 18th Ordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

It comprises of one Member State from each Region (Algeria-North, Angola-Southern, Chad-Central, Côte d'Ivoire-West and Ethiopia-East), together with Benin as the Chairperson of the African Union. South Africa and Gabon also form part of this Committee as they are the two countries who fielded candidates for the position of the AU Chairperson.

The meeting agreed on the process for the election of the AU Commissioners. A report will be presented before the election of the AU Commission and its Chairperson at the next African Union Summit in July 2012 in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Since the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity 49 years ago and later the African Union the Southern Region has never had the opportunity to lead the Pan African Body. The SADC region has nominated South African Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

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Issued by The Presidency