"Peace and security will preoccupy my attention and those newly elected commissioners who are also assuming their duties today," Konare stated at a ceremony at Africa House.
He succeeds Amara Essy, who headed the AU's interim commission from July 2002 to July 2003 after the AU was officially launched in Durban, South Africa, replacing the Organisation of African Unity.
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, current chairperson of the AU, said Africa must find peace "to devote undivided attention to issues of development and poverty reduction".
Ethiopian President Girma Woldegeorgis also attended the ceremony.
The former Malian President was elected for a four-year term and said that the transformation from the OAU into AU brought huge tasks in bringing about political, economic and cultural integration for every African.
Konare said he would try to continue and strengthen peace efforts already begun in a number of conflict areas including Burundi.
The task ahead was challenging and required commensurate efforts to ensure peace and security, which was crucial for strengthening democracy and good governance, providing education and health care and an improved standard of living in Africa.
"We are resolutely determined to live up to the trust African leaders placed on our Union to face squarely the challenges facing Africa to ensure its survival", he said.
Konare also thanked his predecessor for ensuring a smooth transition from OAU to AU within two years.
Essy said the ceremony was, "a major landmark" in the political history of Africa, heralding, "the first step towards an effective crystallisation of the AU".
Chissano said the African Peace and Security Council and the Pan- African parliament have to be made functional soon to address conflicts in Africa and said the restructuring of the AU should be completed as soon as possible.
At a press conference, Konare said he would try to collect arrears from member states dating back before OAU was transformed into the AU.
"We have to make our own contributions to the ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts", he said.
"We have to show our capacity to manage our own affairs before we ask our partners for funds.
This is also true in development and poverty alleviation efforts. Once we mobilise locally, external resources would follow," he said.
In reference to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, he said Africa had been supporting Palestinian rights to independence as guaranteed by the road map which "must be maintained", he said. – Sapa-DPA.
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