The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Rose Athumani
29 April 2008
The African Union Commission yesterday acquired a new leadership following the official handing over of authority under the new AU chairman, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The outgoing chairman of the AU commission, President Alpha Omar Konare of Mali, handed over office to the new chairman, Mr Jean Ping of Gabon.
Mr Konare handed over the AU flag and constitution to Mr Ping as a symbol of the peaceful handing over of office to the new leadership.
At the ceremony, which was attended by hundreds of guests, Mr Konare pledged to assist the new management whenever required to do so.
In his speech Mr Ping said he would make the commission the engine for development in the African continent.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Ato Meles Zenawi, expressed gratitude to President Kikwete, for presiding over the ceremony.
"Tanzania has always made the African continent feel proud," he told President Kikwete.
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