Archbishop Valentine Mokiwa is the new President of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC).
He was elected at the just concluded AACC 9th General Assembly held in Maputo, Mozambique, according to a statement from the AACC in Nairobi.
Archbishop Mokiwa, a Tanzanian, replaces the Rt. Rev. Dr. Nyansako-ni-Nku of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, who provided exemplary leadership for the last five years.
He will be assisted in his work by five Vice-Presidents drawn from Western Africa (Bishop A. Mensah), Central (Bishop D. Yemba), South (Mrs. F. Cherinda), North (Mrs. J. Kwaje) and a representative of the Orthodox family.
Archbishop Mokiwa was inducted into office on December 12, 2008 in Maputo, Mozambique, at a ceremony attended by Mr Thabo Mbeki, former president of South Africa.
At the same ceremony other members of the governing body were inducted including Rev. Dr. André Karamaga, the new AACC General Secretary.
The Rt. Rev. Mokiwa is the fifth Primate of the Anglican Church of Tanzania elected in February 2008 for a five year term.
He will continue in service of his church even as President of AACC.
Previously, Archbishop Mokiwa served as a member of both the AACC General and Executive Committee, AACC governing organs.
AACC is a Pan-African Christian organisation founded in 1963 in Kampala, Uganda.
It brings together in fellowship 173 churches and Christian councils from 40 African countries.