The chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat has condemned the murder of George Floyd in the Unites States' city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Floyd died on Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin Floyd's neck to the ground for several minutes as his colleagues also used their weights on other parts of his body to keep him still.

"The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat strongly condemns the murder of George Floyd that occurred in the United States of America at the hands of law enforcement officers, and wishes to extend his deepest condolences to his family and loved ones," read a statement issued on behalf of Mahamat by his spokesperson Ebba Kalondo.

"The Chairperson of the African Union Commission firmly reaffirms and reiterates the African Union's rejection of the continuing discriminatory practices against Black citizens of the United States of America."

Floyd's death has received wide condemnation across the U.S. and the rest of the world, with ever-growing calls for police accountability.

The agonizing death of the 46-year-old man has since gone viral on social media, sparking protests across Minneapolis as thousands took to the streets to demand justice.

The protests have escalated into violence, with various businesses looted and sections of a police precinct set on fire.

In the statement by Kalondo on behalf of Mahamat, the AUC chairperson urged the U.S. "to intensify their efforts to ensure the total elimination of all forms of discrimination based on race or ethnic origin."

Source(s): African Union