Robert Mugabe has been chosen to be the new chairman of the African Union (AU).

The President of Zimbabwe was elected by fellow heads of state, despite allegations of human rights abuses and vote rigging in his home country.

He says he "humbly accepts the collective's decision."

Mr Mugabe (90) is the longest-serving African leader and is still viewed with respect by many on the continent after he led Zimbabwe to independence.

But he is subject to travel bans in the European Union and US.

He was given a rare invitation to an EU-Africa summit in Brussels last year, but boycotted it after his wife was refused a visa.

The AU's aims are to achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries, to defend the sovereignty of its member states and to speed up the political and socio-economic integration of the continent.

It was established back in 1999 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).