Haddadi to assume office as Vice-President of AU Commission on Thursday

ALGIERS– Algeria’s Ambassador to Addis Ababa and its Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Selma Malika Haddadi, will assume office on Thursday as Vice-President of the AU Commission, replacing Rwanda’s Monique Nsanzabaganwa, whose term has ended.

[ecr] Haddadi was elected on February 15 to the position of Vice-President of the AU Commission with a total of 33 votes during the 38th AU Summit.

She defeated the Moroccan candidate, who was eliminated in the sixth and penultimate round, while the Libyan and Egyptian candidates withdrew in the first and third rounds, respectively.

Following her swearing-in, Haddadi told the press that her victory in this position was "a new achievement for Algeria under the leadership of President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune."

She further expressed her gratitude to the President of the Republic, as well as to Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, for the trust placed in her.

Haddadi said that this election reflects "Algeria’s standing and its African depth, but also demonstrates the confidence placed in it by African countries and its wise leadership."

Furthermore, she said that Algeria "has always played a leading role within the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and now within the African Union." [/ecr]