Africa: Dlamini-Zuma Becomes AU's First Woman Leader

South Africa's International Affairs and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane congratulates Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on her election as the first woman leader of the African Union Commission.
15 July 2012

South African Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has won a vote to become the first female head of the African Union Commission, ITVNews reported the commission's delegates as saying.

Dlamini-Zuma defeated incumbent chairperson Jean Ping of Gabon, who had headed the steering body of the 54-member organisation since 2008.

Her victory comes after a hard-fought battle between herself and Ping. The French news agency Agence France-Presse reported on Friday that SADC had accused sitting AU chief Jean Ping, who is Gabon's foreign minister, of abusing AU resources in his election race. The SADC was backing Dlamini-Zuma.

Ping had earlier denied a South African news report that he was withdrawing from the race.

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