Ramaphosa elected chair of APRM at AU Summit, but will he cope?

While his appointment has been welcomed by the AU, back home questions have been raised as to whether this won’t take his attention away from certain domestic challenges.

President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 33rd AU Summit in Addis Ababa. Picture: Twitter/Presidency

Nthakoana Ngatane | 58 days ago

ADDIS ABABA – The African Union (AU) has elected President Cyril Ramaphosa as the new chairperson of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

Ramaphosa will be responsible for democratic governance on the continent over a two-year period.

[WATCH]: South Africa assumes the Chairship of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Forum of the @_AfricanUnion Heads of State & Government for 2020, towards the promotion of good governance to advance Africa’s shared values. #APRM #TheAfricaWeWant #BetterAfricaBetterWorld pic.twitter.com/chO8D5nZQg
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) February 8, 2020

While his appointment has been welcomed at the continental body in Addis Ababa, back home questions have been raised as to whether this won’t take his attention away from certain domestic challenges.

The President has already been appointed to chair both the climate and infrastructure committees.

The heads of state will officially make him the overall chairperson with an ambitious target of silencing the guns.

But at the heart of his new role is influencing meaningful change and behaviour among leaders, and that can be done with the help of the APRM that Ramaphosa also chairs.

“Working with the collective, I also look forward to pursuing innovations that will catalyse the positive transformation of the APRM across the continent.”

Zimbabwe and Seychelles are among the countries who’ve voluntarily acceded to the APRM.

“We stand the threshold of a new epoch of governance and leadership in Africa. The country review processes are at the core of the mandate and work of the #APRM. They are a niche that distinguishes our Mechanism from other equally important initiatives we have on our continent.” pic.twitter.com/Lk1dxyfESL
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) February 8, 2020

But it seems some South Africans have questioned if the president’s new role won’t take his eye off the ball at home where unemployment, slow economic growth, load shedding and problems at among others South African Airways, continue.

Ramaphosa will, however, have to convince his primary constituents that he can juggle it all.

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Ramaphosa elected chair of APRM at AU Summit, but will he cope?

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