African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Zuma, has appointed outgoing Secretary General of the commission, Ambassador Jean Mfasoni, Special Advisor in her Office as from 1 July 2015.

Zuma also announced the appointment of a new Secretary General. Ms. Djeneba Diarra, a Malian, the first woman to occupy this position in the Union’s history.

The handing over ceremony between Ambassador Jean Mfasoni, outgoing Secretary General, and Ms. Djeneba Diarra, incoming Secretary General took place Tuesday at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

On behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission, Ambassador Smail Chergui, Commissioner for Peace and Security commended the work done by Ambassador Mfasoni for Africa.

He welcomed the appointment of the first woman at the position of Secretary General and recalled the commitment of the Commission to promote women’s empowerment through the appointment of women at leadership positions.

Prior to her appointment, she was Deputy Legal Counsel (2004-2014) of the commission and served as Acting Legal Counsel from July 2012 to December 2013.

Diarra was also Acting Executive Secretary of the AU Advisory Board on the Fight against Corruption (March 2014-March 2015) based at the secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania, the unique continental organisation mandated by the AU to deal with corruption and other related matters in Africa.

Diarra joined the OAU in 1996 as Legal Officer, a position that enabled her to gather enormous experience in the drafting of legal instruments governing the AU

Ambassador Mfasoni has served the African Union for close to 35 years.Djeneba Diarra was the first woman to occupy the position.

Mfasoni has also been appointed a new advisor of the AU Commission.