Over the years the Assembly of the African Union has been appointing Heads of State/Government to champion/lead on key issues and initiatives on the continental agenda. The aim is to give greater awareness and to mobilize continental and global support for the implementation of those initiatives/issues. Thematic assignments have played a role in enabling the Union to tackle wide array of issues on its agenda. 

Who are those Champions?

1. Continent’s Political Integration: Republic of Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
2. Combating Early Marriage of Young Girls: Republic of Zambia : President Edgar Chagwa Lungu
3. Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA): Republic of Niger: President  Mahamadou Issoufou
4. Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investment in Youth: Republic of Chad: President  Idriss Deby Itno
5. Domestic Health Financing: Republic of Rwanda: President  Paul Kagame
6. Institutional Reform of the African Union: Republic of Rwanda: President Paul Kagame
7. Implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP): Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: Prime Minister  Abiy Ahmed
8. Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa: Republic of Togo: President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe
9. Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Africa: People’s Republic of Algeria: President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
10. Migration: Kingdom of Morocco: King Mohamed VI
11. Implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063: Republic of Cote D’Ivoire: President  Alassane Dramane Ouattara
12. Gender and Development Issues in Africa: Republic of Ghana: President Nana Akufo Addo
13. Committee of Ten (C10) on the United Nations Security Council reform: Republic of Sierra Leone: President  Julius Maada Bio
14. Education, Science and Innovation: Republic of Senegal: President Mr. Macky Sall
15. AUDA/NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC): Republic of Senegal: President Macky Sall
16. Malaria: Kingdom of Eswatini: King Mswati III
17. Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation: Federal Republic of Nigeria: President  Muhammadu Buhari
18. Climate Change (CAHOSCC): Republic of Gabon: President Ali Bongo Ondimba
19. Revitalization and operationalization of the African Union Policy on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD): Arab Republic of Egypt: President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
20. Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Burkina Faso: President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré
21. Refugees, Returnees and Internal Displaced Persons (IDP): Republic of Equatorial Guinea: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
22. High-Level Committee on Libya: Republic of Congo: President Denis Sassou Nguesso
23. African Union- United Nations Cooperation: Republic of South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa
24. Development of Blue Economy : Republic of Seychelles: H.E. President Danny Faure.

So far there are no standard modalities for the selection of those champions, the duration of the assignments are not clear and it is not sure if the assignment is transferable in case of change of leadership at the helm of the country. The African Union needs to clarify these. 

This list may not be exhaustive. Please drop me a line on assogbavi@me.com or Desire.Assogbavi@assodesire.com should you have additional information or suggestions on this.

Merci !