Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Japan congratulated newly elected Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), and Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, on Monday.

The two officials won the elections held on February 15 during the 38th Ordinary Session of Assembly of the AU held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Four other commissioners were also elected.

Youssouf is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti and Haddadi is the current Permanent Representative of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the AU.

Japan also expressed its respect for the achievements and leadership of the current executive, including the current Chairperson of the AUC, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

In a statement by Press Secretary KITAMURA Toshihiro, Japan hoped for the AUC, which is one of the co-organizers of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, to work together in the conference process going forward.

Japan will continue to support the AU’s efforts, including the implementation of Agenda 2063, the AU’s long-term development vision, and will work closely with the new AUC led by Youssouf.

The Asian government said it aims to further strengthen cooperation with the AU and African countries in various fields, including TICAD 9, which will be held in Yokohama in August this year.