By Sizwe Dlamini
The country’s Auditor General, Timothy Matsebula, has been elected Chairperson of the African Union Board of External Auditors (AU BoEA) for the 2025-2026 term, an authority for Heads of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) from Africa Union (AU) Member States responsible for the Audit of the AU.
This marks the first time since 2015 that a non-permanent member of the Board has assumed the prestigious position.
The announcement was made on 22 January 2025, during a BoEA meeting held at the African Court on Human and People’s Rights in Arusha, Tanzania. Matsebula’s election was unanimous, with no voting required as he was unopposed, reflecting the high confidence level in Eswatini’s SAI’s leadership. This milestone follows Eswatini’s re-election to the BoEA for the second consecutive term, covering 2024 to 2026.
Matsebula succeeds the President of the Accountability State Authority of Egypt. His appointment brings Southern African representation to the forefront of the BoEA. The Board is responsible for overseeing the audits of the AU, including its organs and financial statements, ensuring accountability and transparency across the union.
During the meeting, representatives from South Africa, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, and Egypt were present.
Permanent members of the BoEA include South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, and Morocco. Other non-permanent members include Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Upon his appointment, Matsebula emphasized the importance of collaboration, transparency, and professional partnerships in fulfilling the AU BoEA’s mandate.
“I am a firm believer that engagement, collaboration, and transparency are critical to our success,” he said.
“I look forward to continued and meaningful engagement with every member of this Board. I invite each of you to actively participate in our discussions, share your insights, and contribute to shaping our strategies.”
Matsebula called for a shared vision and values, prioritizing excellence and cooperation, and invited the Board members to lend their voices to shape the direction of the AU BoEA.
The AU BoEA, a prestigious international body in the audit sector, is tasked with auditing the African Union’s financial accounts. The Board operates under Rule 97 of the African Union Financial Rules, submitting reports to the Executive Council through the Sub Committee of the PRC on Audit Matters.
In addition to Matsebula’s election, the meeting also saw the appointment of Eswatini’s Deputy Auditor General, Timothy Masuku, as the new Chairperson of the Audit Operations Committee (AOC), a role vital to the operational success of the AU BoEA.