Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has been formally elected as the Chairperson of the African Union for the year 2026, taking over the rotating leadership from Angola’s President João Lourenço at the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union which kicked off at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, called for African solidarity, financial independence, and a collective push to shape the global agenda.
The two-day summit, held under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” saw the election of new Chairperson of the Union for the year 2026 and strong messages on the urgent appeal for peace and institutional reform.
Addressing the Assembly Meeting, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, described the access to water as a collective good that must promote both development and peace.
Mr. Youssouf stressed that the meeting came at a time of mounting geopolitical turbulence, with persistent conflicts, institutional fragility and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government across parts of the continent.
Against a backdrop of weakening multilateralism and rising global polarization, he urged “Member States to accelerate political and economic integration under the guiding vision of Agenda 2063”.
The Chairperson of the Commission further emphasized that institutional reform and financial self-reliance are now imperative as external funding declines.
He called for stronger domestic resource mobilization and faster implementation of continental flagship programmes, particularly
“Institutional reform and financial self-reliance are now imperative as external funding declines,” he stated.
Rising Expectations
Mr. Youssouf also acknowledged rising expectations from Africa’s youth, women and civil society, emphasizing that this decade of Agenda 2063 must deliver tangible performance and measurable results.
The African Union Commission Chairperson expressed his solidarity with populations affected by conflict, citing crises in Sudan, the Sahel, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, as well as the suffering of the Palestinian people.
He reaffirmed that “respect for international law and humanitarian law remains fundamental to global peace and called for determined, collective action to secure a stronger, more autonomous and prosperous Africa”.
The outgoing Chairperson of the African Union and President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, who opened the 39th African Union Summit by calling for accelerated action to ensure sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems, the 2026 African Union theme, describing “access to water as a political, moral and strategic priority essential for Africa’s development, public health, food security and stability”.
Progress in Advancing Agenda 2063
Reflecting on Angola’s year as the African Union Chair, President Lourenço highlighted progress in advancing Agenda 2063, mobilizing investment for infrastructure, strengthening continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area and promoting reforms to improve AU efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.
On peace and security, President Lourenço stressed that Africa’s development depends on “silencing the guns” and addressing ongoing conflicts, particularly in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as combating terrorism in the Sahel and Horn of Africa.
He reaffirmed “the African Union’s rejection of unconstitutional changes of government and warned against legitimizing coups through subsequent elections”.
The Angolan President urged African leaders to adopt measurable commitments that deliver tangible results for citizens and reinforce a resilient, integrated and prosperous Africa aligned with Agenda 2063.
Speaking at the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed emphasized that “Africa should shift from reacting to global events to actively shaping the global agenda, especially as the African Union nears its 25th anniversary”.
Mr. Ahmed called for unity, confidence, and greater continental influence in world affairs.
He highlighted that “true sovereignty includes owning Africa’s narrative and technological future, noting Ethiopia’s establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) institute and plans for an AI university, and concluded with a forward-looking vision aligned with Agenda 2063”.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres stressed the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, underscoring multilateral cooperation as essential for peace, security, and sustainable development.
He highlighted “Africa’s growing influence in global affairs, reaffirmed the need for UN Security Council reform including stronger African representation and emphasized support for Africa’s development goals, industrialization, and equitable access to financing”.
Composition of New Bureau
The composition of the new Bureau of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union for 2026 is as follows:
1. Chair of the African Union – The Republic of Burundi, (Central Africa)
2. First vice – Ghana, (West Africa);
3. Second vice – Tanzania, (East Africa);
4. Third Vice – To be confirmed, (North Africa Region); and
5. Rapporteur – Angola, (Southern Africa).