Algeria's Ambassador to Addis Ababa and Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), Selma Malika Haddadi, won a landslide victory on Saturday over her Moroccan rival for the post of Vice-Chairperson of the AU Commission with a total of 33 votes.
Ms. Haddadi replaces Monique Nsanzabaganwa of Rwanda, whose term of office came to an end, after defeating the Moroccan candidate, eliminated in the sixth and penultimate round, and after the withdrawal of the Libyan, in the first round, and Egyptian candidates in the third. She was sworn in immediately after her election.
Aged 47, Mrs Haddadi is described by her peers as a seasoned diplomat with over two decades' experience in promoting peace and unity on the continent.
From March 2023 to April 2024, Ms. Haddadi was Director General for Africa at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Between 2019 and 2023, she was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kenya and South Sudan.
From 2015 to 2019, she was Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Algerian Embassy in Ethiopia and to the African Union. From 2013 to 2015, she was Deputy Director of Social Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Directorate General for Political Affairs and International Security.
Her main mission in this position was to prepare and coordinate Algeria's participation in global discussions on issues relating to the family, women, children, health, youth, people with disabilities, sport and the elderly, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
It was she who tactfully headed the Algerian Office for Refugees and Stateless Persons at the General Directorate of Legal and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2013.
Prior to this, she was Counsellor and Head of the Political Section at Algeria's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
For this election, Ms. Haddadi proposed a fresh vision rooted in her “dedication to Africa” as well as her “loyalty” and “commitment” to the AU. She pledged to refocus the AU's action around the objectives set by its founding fathers.
In addition to strengthening the administrative and financial management of the AU Commission in order to establish a culture of efficiency, transparency and accountability at all levels, Mrs Haddadi pledged to promote the principles of pan-Africanism and African unity.
She aims to consolidate trust and synergy between the Commission and AU member states.
In order for the AU to achieve the goal of ownership of its programs and aspirations, as defined by the Founding Fathers and set out in Agenda 2063, Mrs. Haddadi assures that she will promote “the prioritization, revitalization and strengthening of partnerships with African development entities and institutions, such as the AfDB, Afreximbank and AUDA-NEPAD, as major providers of development projects and funds”.
