"Special attention to issues of infrastructure, value addition, agriculture and climate change". Mugabe appointed African Union chairman

Mugabe appointed African Union chairman - Al Jazeera English

Zimbabwean president made head of 54-nation bloc, prompting some to say it sends negative signal.

30 Jan 2015 1 Politics, Africa

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has been appointed the new chairman of the 54-nation African Union.

Friday's announcement was made during the African Union's two-day heads of state summit at the organisation's headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

The 90-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled his country since 1980, succeeds Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

"During my tenure as chair," he said, "I will deliberately provoke your thoughts to pay special attention to issues of infrastructure, value addition, agriculture and climate change".