South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has termed his tenure at the helm of the African Union as "baptism by fire".

His one-year term as chairperson of the continental body will end later this week and he will be succeeded by the Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi.

President Ramaphosa said his main task over the last year was to steer the continent through a global pandemic.

He cited other achievements in peace building, empowering women and opening up the continent's trade.

"During our term, the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was finally launched, heralding a new era of intra-African trade and economic integration," he wrote.