The current Chairperson of the African Union Commission is Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Dr. Dlamini Zuma Embodies African Women Empowerment
On September 9, 1999, 54 African countries, in their quest
for unity, economic and social development called for the establishment of an
African Union. The vision of the African Union is that of “An integrated, prosperous
and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic
force in global arena.” The African Union's vision is also to spearhead
Africa’s development and integration in the global arena.
Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma embodies
empowerment of women across the African continent and the world. She was born
on January 27, 1949 in the current South African province of KwaZulu-Natal.
While in exile, she received her doctorate from the
University of Bristol in the United Kingdom in 1978. She became an active
underground member of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1971-1976 and a
member of the South African Students Organization being elected deputy
president.
After the 1994 elections, Dr Dlamini Zuma was appointed as
Minister of Health in the cabinet of the late President Nelson Mandela. In July
2012, the African Heads of States elected H.E Dr. Dlamini Zuma Chairperson of
the African Union Commission. She is the first woman to lead the continental
organization, including its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity. H.E
Dr Dlamini Zuma was the first woman and candidate of the southern region
elected to the post.
A few objectives of the African Union are to achieve greater
unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa,
promote peace, security, and stability on the continent and advance the
development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular
in science and technology. Recently African leaders have agreed to send 7,500
troops to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria. There are 54
African Union Member States as of March 2015.
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| African Union Member States as of March 2015 |
