Ruto commends Moussa Faki for sterling job as he exits AUC

President William Ruto has commended the outgoing African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Moussa Faki for a job well done during his tenure.

The two leaders met on Thursday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ahead of the AUC chairmanship polls slated for Saturday.

Ruto wished Faki well in the next chapter of his life.

“Met African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Congratulated him for his sterling role at the Commission in the past eight years. Wished him success in his future endeavours,” the President said on X.

He went on to say that the AU, under Faki’s leadership has grown to become a strong champion of the interests of member states.

He committed to continue reinvigorating the AU to make it more fit for purpose as its champion for reforms.

“The African Union has increasingly become a strong voice for the continent and Member States. We will continue revamping our organisation to make it fit-for-purpose to effectively deal with political, economic, and security challenges,” Ruto added.

The meeting between Ruto and Faki came a day after he bid farewell to the commission.

Faki who is exiting after concluding his two-term tenure admitted that his emotions were overwhelming as he prepared to hand over the seat.

"I will have fulfilled my term and will not remain even a day longer,” he told the African Union (AU) Executive Council.

Faki officially opened the two-day meeting that also served as an opportunity for the ministers to elect six AUC commissioners for Agriculture, Economic Development, Education, Infrastructure and Energy, Political Affairs, Peace and Security and Health.

The Commission's chairperson and members serve for four years, renewable once.

Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf who will be battling it out with Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato arrived in the country Tuesday.