Ethiopia Backs Kenyan Candidate for AU Chairperson PositionDecember 1, 2016 - Ethiopia has disclosed that it will back the candidature of Kenya’s foreign affairs chief in the race to elect the new chairperson of the African Union (AU). On Wednesday she met with the Ethiopian Premier, Hailemariam Desalegn, to hand him a message from Kenyan President. She told reporters that in her race to AUC Chairperson she is paying due attention to unleash Africa’s potentials for industrialization, to eradicate poverty, and to create job for Africa’s youth which are stipulated under Agenda 2063. The five candidates for the AUC Chairperson position include:• Botswana’s foreign minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi• Chad’s foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat• Equatorial Guinea’s foreign minister Agapito Mba Mokuy• Kenya’s foreign minister Amina Mohamed and• Senegal’s Bathily Abdoulaye who is the special UN envoy for Central Africa. The South African Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been the AU chairperson since 2012 and did not apply for a second term during the earlier nomination process.

Source: Ethiopian News December 01, 2016 20:04 UTC