Member states of the African Union have unanimously agreed to name the biggest hall in the recently constructed headquarters after late South African Leader Nelson Mandela.
The decision was made after several leaders eulogized the industrious African son for his fight against racial segregation.
Speaking at the opening session of the 22nd AU Summit in Addis, Ethiopia, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the President of Algeria, mooted the idea, making reference to Mandela�s contribution to African struggle against oppression.
Backing earlier calls from other leaders, South Africa President Jacob Zuma said Nelson Mandela - who died on December 5, 2013 - has become an iconic figure following the footsteps of Ghana�s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose imposing statue stands in front of the AU headquarters.
President Zuma said Dr. Nkrumah led the fight against colonial oppression and sought the African interest in all his dealings with the outside world.
The new Nelson Mandela Hall is the main centre to host all major AU conferences and has the capacity to contain 2,500 people.
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