Algeria Candidate For the AU Commission Deputy Chairperson

Algeria’s candidacy for Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission stems from a strong determination to serve the AU with all seriousness and sincerity, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, the National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf said.

In his speech in Addis Ababa on Monday evening, while supervising the official launch of the campaign of Algeria’s candidate for the position of Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, on the sidelines of the official visit he is making to Ethiopia, in his capacity as Special Envoy of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Attaf explained that “Algeria’s candidacy is neither a vain search for prestige and leadership, nor a futile search for influence, nor a pursuit of glory, nor the result of a sudden desire to score political points”.

The Minister of State added that Algeria’s candidacy “stems from a strong determination to serve our African Union with all seriousness and sincerity, and a strong belief that its candidacy came in its appropriate context with all the challenges and aspirations it entails at the level of the new continental space, and comes from a deep internal sense of African duty that we are keen to fulfil with all our sisters and brothers in Africa who are characterized by commitment, faith, loyalty and goodwill.”

The minister stressed on this occasion that “President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, like his counterparts, the heads of state and government of African countries, is very keen on the future of our organization and is fully committed to Algeria’s contribution to strengthening our collective agenda for peace, stability, integration and shared prosperity.”

“In two months from now, the member states of our organization will have the opportunity to elect a new leadership for the African Union Commission,” he said noting that this process may seem “a normal or simple task, considering that we have gone through the same exercise at least five times since the transition from the OAU to the AU and at least fifteen times since the creation of the OAU in 1963.”

Despite this impressive record, Attaf added, “We firmly believe that the upcoming elections are not ordinary because we are living in unusual times due to the complex crises, profound turmoil and, most obviously uncertainty all over the world.”

In this context, he explained that “it is clear that the world is in dire need of a great deal of political wisdom and strategic insight, two values that have always distinguished the African family,” expressing Algeria’s aspiration that “our continental organization, the African Union, will play a prominent role in addressing this unfortunate global situation while advocating for the rules and principles that constitute the solid foundation of the contemporary international system,” stressing the “urgent need to make the organization’s voice heard and ensure its active and vital contribution”.

From this perspective, the Minister of State said, “The Algerian government has decided to officially nominate one of its most honest and competent women in terms of African affiliation, for the position of Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, in the person of Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi,” stressing that she was recently appointed Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, because she is a competent legal expert and seasoned diplomat.”

He added in the same context that her extensive and rich experience in African and international affairs is evident in her valuable and rich experience in the various positions she has held, whether in Algeria as General Secretary for African Affairs, or in various diplomatic missions in Africa, including in Kenya and Addis Ababa, as well as in other multilateral diplomatic centres, such as the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Attaf assured that “Ambassador Selma Haddadi if elected, will spare no effort to ensure that the Commission of our continental organization operates according to the most effective management standards in terms of human and financial resources and that she “will bring to the Commission the necessary energy, the required dynamism and the desired efficiency for more effective and efficient management to unleash the enormous potential of the Africa we want and the Africa we are proud of.”

For her part, Ambassador Haddadi reviewed, during this occasion, the main axes of her program and her ambitious vision for the financial and administrative management of the African Union Commission. She stressed that she will rely on advanced standards in management and governance, based on her extensive diplomatic experience and deep knowledge of African affairs.

This campaign comes as part of Algeria’s efforts to strengthen its diplomatic presence on the African continent and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the African Union.