Rwanda's Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa elected Deputy Chairperson AU Commission

Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa

Rwanda's Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa was Saturday, February 6, elected as Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission. She was elected by majority 42 out of the 55 member states to beat five other contestants from other countries.

This was during day one of the African Union virtual summit where President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also succeeded South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa as the AU Chairperson for the year 2021.

Elections at the 34th AU Summit also saw Amb.  Moussa Faki Mahamat reelected - for a final term - as Chairperson of the AU Commission. 

Nsanzabaganwa, an accomplished economist who has been until now, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), will now take over from Ghana's Amb. Quartey Thomas Kwesi, as Deputy Chairperson. She will serve for a four-year term, renewable once.

Efficiency and accountability

The African Union Commission (AUC) is the AU's secretariat which undertakes the day to day activities of the Union, which is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In her short speech shortly after being elected, Nsanzabaganwa told African leaders that: "My vision for the role of Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission can be summarized in two words; efficiency and accountability."

"These values must characterize our Union in all its business, especially financial and administrative functions."

Rwanda's candidate easily saw off competition from five candidates: Djibouti's Hasna Barkat Daoud, Gambia's Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang, Ghana's Marta Ama Akyaa Pobee, Somalia's Awale Ali Kullane and Uganda's Pamela K. Mbabazi.

In the poll, Uganda's Mbabazi managed only 10 votes and Djibouti's Daoud, two. The Deputy Chairperson of the AUC assists the Chairperson in ensuring the smooth running of the Commission and is in charge of administration and finance.