Ghana has been elected First Vice Chair of the African Union (AU) for 2026 at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, currently underway at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two-day summit, held under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” opened with strong calls for African solidarity, financial independence, and renewed continental leadership to shape the global agenda.
The summit also witnessed the election of Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, as Chairperson of the African Union for 2026, succeeding João Lourenço of Angola, the outgoing AU Chair.
Calls for Unity, Reform and Self-Reliance
Addressing the Assembly, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, framed discussions around the 2026 theme, describing access to water and sanitation as a collective continental good essential for both development and peace.
He noted that the summit was taking place against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, persistent conflicts, institutional fragility, and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government across parts of Africa. He urged member states to accelerate political and economic integration under the vision of Agenda 2063 while prioritizing institutional reform and financial self-reliance in the face of declining external funding.
Chairperson Youssouf further emphasized the importance of domestic resource mobilization and faster implementation of flagship continental programmes, including industrialisation, agricultural transformation, energy development, and infrastructure expansion. He also highlighted rising expectations from Africa’s youth, women, and civil society, stressing the need for measurable results during this decade of Agenda 2063.
He expressed solidarity with populations affected by conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, while reaffirming the importance of international law and humanitarian principles in global peace efforts.
Outgoing Chair Reflects on AU Progress
Officially opening the summit, President João Lourenço called for accelerated action to ensure sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems, describing water access as a political, moral, and strategic priority linked to development, public health, food security, and stability.
Reflecting on Angola’s tenure as AU Chair, he highlighted progress in advancing Agenda 2063, mobilising investment for infrastructure, strengthening continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and promoting institutional reforms aimed at improving AU efficiency and reducing bureaucracy.
On peace and security, he stressed that Africa’s development depends on “silencing the guns,” particularly in conflict zones such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while reaffirming the AU’s rejection of unconstitutional changes of government.
Africa Must Shape the Global Agenda
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia urged African leaders to move beyond reacting to global events and instead actively shape international discourse, especially as the African Union approaches its 25th anniversary.
He emphasized that true sovereignty includes ownership of Africa’s narrative and technological future, citing Ethiopia’s investments in artificial intelligence development and plans to establish an AI university as part of a forward-looking continental vision aligned with Agenda 2063.
UN-AU Partnership Highlighted
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, describing multilateral cooperation as essential for peace, security, and sustainable development.
He reaffirmed support for Africa’s development priorities, industrialisation, and equitable access to financing, while also reiterating calls for reform of the UN Security Council to ensure stronger African representation.
New AU Bureau for 2026
The composition of the Bureau of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union for 2026 is as follows:
- Chairperson – Burundi (Central)
- First Vice Chair – Ghana (West)
- Second Vice Chair – Tanzania (East)
- Third Vice Chair – To be confirmed (North)
- Rapporteur – Angola (Southern)
The summit continues with deliberations focused on water security, sanitation systems, and pressing peace and security challenges across the continent.