The Election of Dr Dlamini Zuma as AU Chairperson Towards Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance?

"This brief considers the hard-won victory of Dr Dlamini-Zuma, its implication for the global image of African states and the prospect of the new AU Commission leadership being able to promote a more effective AU. This brief highlights three main challenges: first, the priority of promoting the implementation of, and adherence to, the numerous policies formulated by the AU and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) during the last half- century. Second, there is a need to address the difficulty of increasing the number and quality of the AU Commission staff. Third, the AU must revisit its reliance on external funding and the location of power among the ‘Friends of the AU’ instead of with the Commission itself. In summary, the election of Dr Dlamini-­Zuma provides an additional opportunity to promote cooperation between African states, move towards the greater relevance of the AU globally, and improve stability and economic development in Africa through an invigorated top management at the helm of the AU Commission. "