Chairperson of the African Union
| Chairperson of the African Union | |
|---|---|
since 15 February 2025 | |
| Style | Excellency |
| Abbreviation | CPAU |
| Appointer | the Assembly |
| Term length | One year |
| Constituting instrument | Constitutive Act of the AU (article 6) |
| Precursor | Chairperson of the OAU |
| Formation | 9 July 2002 |
| First holder | Thabo Mbeki |
| Deputy | Bureau |
| Website | au |
The Chairperson of the African Union is the ceremonial head of the African Union (AU) elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for a one-year term. It rotates among the continent's five regions.
A candidate must be selected by consensus or at least two-thirds majority vote by member states. The chairperson is expected to complete the term without interruption; hence countries with impending elections may be ineligible.
The current Chairperson is Angolan President João Lourenço. The Republic of the Congo has expressed an interest for the position in 2026.