Johannesburg - The opposition Democratic Alliance on Sunday congratulated Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on her election as chairperson of the African Union Commission.
“We believe that she has the appropriate skills and competence to transform the African Union into an efficient and effective body as well as the diplomatic acumen to address the many crucial issues facing the African continent,” party MP Ian Davidson said in a statement.
“The AU chairpersonship presents South Africa with an opportunity to establish Africa as a proponent of value-driven international relations, based on the principles of democracy and human rights.”
South Africa was now in a unique position to improve the alignment of international and regional agendas.
The DA hoped that under the leadership of Dlamini-Zuma, the AU would build consensus around “appropriate regional responses” to the coup in Mali, the civil conflict in Somalia, the hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan and the resurgence of rebel fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We wish Dr Dlamini-Zuma well in her role. We believe that she can lead a new era of a prominent place for Africa in an international agenda driven from the south.” - Sapa