ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — A woman has been inaugurated into the top leadership position at the African Union for the first time.

South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma took charge Monday of the African Union commission, where she will oversee peace and security functions and keep track of the political and economic affairs of the continent. Dlamini-Zuma was most recently South Africa’s minister of home affairs and also served as the country’s minister of foreign affairs.