Ghana has been elected First Vice Chair of the African Union (AU) for the year 2026 following elections held at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two-day summit, hosted at the African Union headquarters, is being held under the theme “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
The gathering brought together African leaders and international partners to deliberate on water security, peace and security, institutional reform, and Africa’s place in the evolving global order.
Call for Solidarity and Reform
Opening the Assembly, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, framed the summit around the urgency of water and sanitation as a collective continental good that underpins development and peace.
He warned that the continent faces mounting geopolitical turbulence marked by persistent conflicts, institutional fragility, and a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government.
Against weakening multilateralism and growing global polarization, he urged Member States to accelerate political and economic integration in line with Agenda 2063.
“Institutional reform and financial self-reliance are now imperative as external funding declines,” Youssouf said, calling for stronger domestic resource mobilization and faster implementation of flagship programmes in industrialization, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.
He also underscored rising expectations from Africa’s youth, women, and civil society, stressing that the current decade of Agenda 2063 must deliver measurable results.
The AUC Chairperson expressed solidarity with populations affected by conflicts in Sudan, the Sahel, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia, while reaffirming respect for international and humanitarian law.
Angola Hands Over, Urges Action on Water and Peace
Officially opening the summit, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, outgoing AU Chairperson and President of Angola, described access to water as a political, moral, and strategic priority essential for public health, food security, and stability.
Reflecting on Angola’s tenure, President Lourenço cited progress in advancing Agenda 2063, mobilizing infrastructure investment, strengthening continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and promoting institutional reforms to improve AU efficiency.
On peace and security, he reiterated the AU’s commitment to “silencing the guns,” condemning unconstitutional changes of government and warning against legitimizing coups through elections.
Africa Must Shape the Global Agenda
Host country Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged African nations to move from reacting to global developments to actively shaping the global agenda, as the AU approaches its 25th anniversary.
He highlighted Ethiopia’s investments in artificial intelligence, including the establishment of an AI institute and plans for an AI university, as part of Africa’s technological future aligned with Agenda 2063.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, emphasizing multilateral cooperation, support for Africa’s industrialization, equitable access to financing, and the need for UN Security Council reform with stronger African representation.
Burundi Elected AU Chair, Ghana Named First Vice Chair
At the summit, Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi, was formally elected Chairperson of the African Union for 2026, taking over from Angola.
The newly elected Bureau of the AU Assembly for 2026 is composed as follows:
Chair of the African Union – Republic of Burundi (Central Africa)
First Vice Chair – Ghana (West Africa)
Second Vice Chair – Tanzania (East Africa)
Third Vice Chair – To be confirmed (North Africa)
Rapporteur – Angola (Southern Africa)
Focus on Water Security Continues
Deliberations at the summit continue with a strong focus on water security and sanitation, alongside urgent peace and security challenges across the continent. Leaders are expected to adopt commitments aimed at strengthening Africa’s resilience, integration, and prosperity in line with Agenda 2063.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
