The nation’s former vice president Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has spoken for the first time on her failed bid to become the deputy chairperson of the AU commission.
Tambajang Jallow was supposed to battle it out with four other African women for the top role but Nigeria’s interest in another job led to the withdrawal of her candidature. Some believed Nigeria strong-armed its compatriot ECOWAS nations.
But she wrote on her official Facebook page on Saturday: “On February 2nd, ECOWAS Heads of States had an extraordinary summit via videoconference and decided to have Ghana and The Gambia step down their Candidates for Deputy Chairperson of the AU. This means that I am no longer in the running for deputy chairperson of the AUC. Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Gambia all also withdrew their commissioner candidates as well, in order to allow Nigeria to run as a sole regional candidate as commissioner of peace.
“Since my nomination by The Gambia government in September 2020, I have been busy campaigning but like the saying goes, man proposes but God disposes. Today as the voting process of the new AU commission kicks off, I would like to thank all those who have supported my campaign; I will continue to support the reform and growth of the AU and wish the incoming commission the best of luck.”
The role went to Rwanda’s Dr Nsanzabaganwa Monique on Saturday after 33 delegates voted for her.
