The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping, has commended the Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the African Union (AU), Ambassador Mohammed Omar Maundi, for the competence and dedication with which he ably represented his country during the past three years. Dr. Ping was speaking in his office at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa on Friday, 26 November 2010 during an audience granted to Ambassador Maundi who had come to bid him farewell at the end of his tenure.

Recalling that his first year in office as Chairperson of the Commission in 2008 coincided with Tanzania's chair of the African Union, Dr. Ping paid glowing tribute to His Excellency President Jakaya Kikwete for his strong support and excellent working relationship, and requested Ambassador Maundi to convey to President Kikwete and the Foreign Affairs Minister his deep appreciation and highest regards for the active and fruitful role played by Tanzania in promoting the goals and ideals of the African Union.

On his part, Ambassador Maundi thanked the Chairperson and the entire AUC leadership for the cooperation and support accorded him during his tenure, particularly in 2008 when he was elected Chair of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) at a time of major political challenges across the continent. He seized the opportunity to extend to his PRC counterparts his gratitude for the unflinching support given him during his tenure and the strong collegial spirit that enabled the Committee to support the work of the AUC.

The Chairperson awarded a certificate of appreciation to the outgoing Ambassador, in recognition of his valuable contribution to the collective efforts geared towards enhancing the capacity of the AU to meet the multiple challenges that face the Continent in the 21st Century.