The Gambia government has nominated former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang for the position of vice chair of the African Union Commission.

Mrs Jallow-Tambajang’s candidacy has been endorsed by the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

She will contest the position of vice chair of the AU Commission as a delegate of the ECOWAS region along with Ambassador Matha Ama Akyaa Pobee of Ghana who is also endorsed by Ecowas. 

The elections for the AU posts will be conducted at the next African Union summit in 2021.

The African Union’s Commission is composed of a chairperson, a deputy chairperson and eight commissioners elected for a four-year term, renewable once. 

The regions from which the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson are appointed are entitled to one commissioner each. 

Meanwhile two other Gambians namely Dr Katim Touray and Ernest Aubee, have been equally nominated for the post of Commissioners for Rural Economy and Agriculture.

Dr. Katim Touray is a former researcher for the Ministry of Agriculture in The Gambia and Ernest Aubee recently served as Head of Agriculture Division at the ECOWAS Commission.

The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 28th August, 2020 submitted the list of the three selected Gambian officials and their regional peers from countries of the West African region competing for the advertised positions at the African Union Commission.