The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) have elected H.E. Felix- Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the new Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2021. The event took place on 6 February 2021 during the Thirty-Fourth (34th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, holding virtually in Addis-Abeba.
“It is a unique privilege for the DRC which accedes to the presidency of the AU at a symbolic and highly significant moment when we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the disappearance of a worthy son of Congo and Africa, Patrice- Emery Lumumba”, declared the President in a speech for the occasion.
The official theme for the year 2021 is “Arts, culture and heritage: levers to build the Africa we want”.